DVD Security Password Protection - Looking for a better solution

[Jerry Jacobs]

We are planning to author a DVD with 10 different video titles on the disc. The disc would autolaunch to a main menu screen showing the 10 titles. Each of the 10 video titles has it's own password. Our objective is that if the end user pre-pays a fee, a password would be issued, and then only that specific video title could be played.

We know how to author and password protect the disc and in fact have run an initial test, but the password protection is much too easily gotten around, making it too easy to get the other titles for free. Here is the problem we are encountering...

1. When on a DVD player feeding to a television, the code does block the program. However, if you hit the stop button on the DVD player and hit play immediately after it, the code entry is bypassed and the video will play. This happened on two separate DVD players.

2. When the DVD is played on a computer, the code works as well. However, if you go to File>Open and select on the second chapter listed on the D drive, the code can be bypassed as well.

Does anyone know of a way to achieve a better solution?

Jerry Jacobs

[2COOL]

For someone who knows how the DVD navigation works on your DVD, it's a simple matter of figuring out what the code is in the IFOs. You don't even have to play your DVD. They would just rip it and preview it through PgcEdit or IfoEdit.

[EDIT]A DVD is like a computer program.

[r0lZ]

1. After STOP, the GPRMs are reset to 0. Therefore, you can initialize a GPRM to a non-zero value in the FP-PGC, and test it in the pre-commands of the titles. If its value is 0, jump to the FP-PGC. That will force the DVD to start over.

2. Set the PUO that prohibits to select a specific chapter in all PGCs of the DVD except in the titles.

In addition to the note by 2COOL, note also that on a PC, it is possible to read the VOB files directly, without using the IFOs. The navigation is completely ignored. Therefore, it is always possible to read (and to copy) your DVD. Unfortunately, I think there is no solution for this problem.

[2COOL]

Thank r0lZ! I forgot about that.

[blutach]

However, some players have a resume from stop feature.

But, in reality, there is no way to stop a person from by-passing your passwords. Commercial DVDs have Easter Eggs where you need to enter codes to get to certain special features (National Treasure is one I can think of). The codes are there for all to see in the IFO files. Anyone who knows how to bypass your passwords will be able to do so, easily.

Regards

[linx05]

But, in reality, there is no way to stop a person from by-passing your passwords. Commercial DVDs have Easter Eggs where you need to enter codes to get to certain special features (National Treasure is one I can think of). The codes are there for all to see in the IFO files. Anyone who knows how to bypass your passwords will be able to do so, easily.

Jerry, have a look here to find more about the easter egg commands. Make sure you read 2COOLs link aswell. It's a little bit over my head but I'm working through it.

I hope it helps.