HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Back-Up May Become Legal

[ed klein]

Under a licensing agreement in its final stages, consumers may get the right to make several legal copies of HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc movies they've purchased, a concession by the movie industry that may quell criticism that DRM (digital rights management) technologies are too restrictive.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?newsid=18125&pagtype=allchandate

[admin]

Managed copy is mandatory on HD DVD, and part of the Blu-ray specs as well. Don't know how this will be done on a technical level, perhaps they will produce special software that can do the ripping/conversion, or perhaps the converted copies (eg. iPod/PSP/Xbox 360 compatible copies) will be ready made on the disc it self (when larger HD DVDs/BDs are available).

All the computer companies (lead by Microsoft) are pushing for this, because it fits into their vision of the networked home. For example, you buy a HD DVD/Blu-ray movie, insert it into your Vista Media Center and it automatically copies a version of the movie using Managed Copy (DRM'd probably, but still) to a central storage server (Windows Home Server?), and you can now play the movie back on any connected device in your home, be that an Xbox 360 or wireless through your PSP. Copy protection currently prevents this, but managed copy might make this viable.

[admin]

HD DVD, Blu-ray "Managed Copy" coming later this year

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070524-hd-dvd-blu-ray-managed-copy-coming-later-this-year.html