DVD Decrypter
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The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
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 Screenshot of DVD Decrypter 3.5.4.0, the last version to be released |
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| Developed by | Lightning UK! |
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| Latest release | 3.5.4.0 / March 21, 2005 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Development status | Discontinued (replaced by ImgBurn) |
| Type | DVD ripper |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | DVD Decrypter Website |
DVD Decrypter is a software application that can create backup disc images of the DVD-Video structure of DVDs. It can be used to image any DVD, but controversially it is especially useful for decrypting copy-protected movies. The program can also burn images to disc. CSS decrypting software (such as DVD Decrypter and AnyDVD) allows a region-specific DVD to be copied as an all-region DVD. It also removes Macrovision, Content Scrambling System (CSS), region codes, and user operation prohibition.
[edit] Legality in the United States
As DVD Decrypter facilitates the removal of copy restrictions, certain uses may be illegal under the United States Digital Millennium Copyright Act. In countries without similar laws there may not be any legal restrictions.
On June 6, 2005, the developer (known as "Lightning UK!") announced [1] via the CD Freaks[2] website that he received a cease and desist letter from Macrovision[3]. He later stated it was within his best interests to comply with the letter, and stopped development of the program. By June 7, 2005 a mirror site was up [4], which allowed people to download the final version (3.5.4.0). On 27 November 2005, Afterdawn.com, a Finnish website, announced that it complied with a letter received from Macrovision demanding that DVD Decrypter be taken down from its site. Shortly after, a site with no connection to Lightning UK! appeared and claimed to be the "new" DVD Decrypter Site. This site has since closed down.
Many American legal experts[who?] believe that under United States' Federal law, making a backup copy of a DVD-Video or an audio CD by a consumer is legal under fair use protection. Some[who?] feel this provision of United States law conflicts with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act prohibition of so-called "circumvention measures" of copy protections.
In 2006, the United States Library of Congress created an exemption that explicitly allows circumventing access control for certain educational purposes.[5]
In the noted "321" case, Federal District Judge Susan Illston, of the Northern District of California [6], ruled that the backup copies made with software such as DVD Decrypter are in fact legal but that distribution of the software used to make them is illegal. As of the date of this revision, neither the US Supreme Court nor the US Congress has taken definitive action on the matter.
On October 4, 2005, Lightning UK! continued the development of the burning engine used by DVD Decrypter in his new tool, ImgBurn.[7]
[edit] External links
- While the Official Site is no longer maintained, the software is available from many different sites. (MD5 hash: 78d806097da8e8b8d595827cccddf6d9)
- DVD Decrypter guide on Doom9.
[edit] References
- ^ Cease and desist letter published at CD Freaks
- ^ CD Freaks.com - Worlds largest digital storage community
- ^ Slyck News - Macrovision Forces Removal of DVD Decrypter
- ^ DVD Decrypter
- ^ U.S. Copyright Office - Anticircumvention Rulemaking
- ^ Judge: DVD-copying software is illegal 2-20-04
- ^ The Official ImgBurn Website
