Can Macrovision really do that?

[Replicon]

I was reading the back of a DVD, and it had a big warning saying that the DVD is guarded by Macrovision, and attempts to copy it will damage the DVD player and disc. Is that even possible? To me, a cd/dvd is just a sequence of bits... a device reads them... and copies them to some stream, as is...

So what kind of metadata would possibly cause damage? Who would design a DVD reader that can be told to damage itself just by having a certain data pattern on the disc? (no, i am NOT trying to rip a dvd, just curious about the subject at hand)

 

[helpme]

Must just be scare tactics.

 

[MSIuser]

I can't see how either. Surely even when ripping a DVD, you are still reading exactly the same thing as a DVD player would only at a higher speed?

 

[Peter]

Scare tactics bullsh*t.

 

[Sunner]

Even if it was technically possible(something Im not qualified to comment on by any means, though it sounds rather far fetched) it would probably be illegal in many countries.
I don't know about US laws regarding intentionally destroying equipment, even as some kind of retaliation, but I imagine there would be quite a few lawsuits flying, given the..."lawsuit happy" population

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Damage the disc? Possibly, but highly doubtful. Damage the player? I can't think of how it could.

My opinion? Scare Tactics.

 

[CQuinn]

IMO think thats the other way around...

Damage the disc? I can't think of how it could.

Damage the player? Possibly, but highly doubtful.

It might be possible to send an additional command code to a DVD player to the effect of"
"If someone tries to bypass macrovision on this disc, disable playback or lock the player"
But very few players would support such a code. Its hard enough to get some companies
to even support macrovision, since they have to pay a license fee to support something that
most of thier customers don't want in the first place.

 

[Description]

Not only that, but the DVD player will burn down your house, murder your loved ones, and disorganize your magazines. That damned Macrovision!

Macrovision attempts to distort the video signal, lowering video quality to render copying by standard means more difficult.
It isn't much.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: Description
Not only that, but the DVD player will burn down your house, murder your loved ones, and disorganize your magazines. That damned Macrovision!

Macrovision attempts to distort the video signal, lowering video quality to render copying by standard means more difficult.
It isn't much.

I'm scared

 

[Stealth1024]

just think what would happen if you illegally copied an MS produced DVD.... (running windows of course)

 

[NewBlackDak]

I somehow doubt that it's any worse than just installing windows.

 

[cquark]

I don't know if DVD players offer the ability to write to their Flash ROMs, but if they do, flash memory can only be written to a limited number of times. If the player overwrote the "ROM" a million or so times with garbage, it could leave the "ROM" full of garbage and unable to be re-flashed, thus disabling the player. The CIH virus used this attack to destroy PCs in 1998. The attack would be unlikely to affect all DVD players, as Flash ROM configuration and interfaces tend to differ extensively between PCs and I suspect also between DVD players.

 

[boran]

this tactic, if possible would be highly illegal overhere in Belgium, sinceyoure legally entitled to MAKE and own yourself one backup copy of every work you own? (notice the wording make, you have to do it yourself, whichmeanscopying)

 

[JediJeb]

I imagine it is only scare tactics. Hey if it is bogus, then why doesn't someone sue Macrovision for false advertising or something like that,

 

[TGHI]

In a word: no. I've done many DVD rips for...personal backups...and I can tell you that Macrovision can't do a lick of 'damage' to any of your components.

 

[Rainsford]

BS. Although given some of our more questionable lawmakers, I wouldn't be surprised if it is (or soon will be) legal. But I would be willing to get dollars to donuts that there is no way to damage the disk or the drive. Especially the disk. Sheesh, who thinks this crap up?

 

[Basse]

Macrovision just "distorts" the projected image somewhat, actually making it difficult for some TVs and projectors etc to show a good picture. Or at least used to. You don't have to worry... ;-)

 

[Ichinisan]

Someone should clarify that is has nothing to do with creating a digital backup of a DVD. Macrovision detects a voltage drop on the composite video line and purposefully distorts the image. Some VCR pass-through inputs simply don't work with Macrovision-enabled equipment, even when you aren't trying to record. Macrovision protection is based on a chipset within the DVD player. The DVD data tells the player to enable/disable protection based on the content.

 

[dgm]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
BS. Although given some of our more questionable lawmakers, I wouldn't be surprised if it is (or soon will be) legal.

Heh. Remember Orin Hatch's proposition to develop technology that would "blow up" the computers of illegal downloaders?

BWAHAHAHA.

Moron.