Blu-ray discs will soon have the ability to make one backup copy, even though compatible players won't be available until well into next year.
The so-called "Managed Copy," which has been in the works for years and years, is set to finally arrive on December 4, Ars Technica reports. Managed Copy allows users to make one copy of the Blu-ray disc, be it as another Blu-ray or DVD disc or as a Windows Media file laced with DRM.
Managed Copy was originally devised for Blu-ray as an answer to HD-DVD, whose discs had mandatory support for one free copy. Blu-ray of course won the format wars, but Managed Copy sat on the backburner. Now it's finally here, but with a couple drawbacks that could still make the idea unattractive for consumers.
First of all, none of the discs you already own will be able to make a Managed Copy, as the capability is being built into new discs.
With these copy-capable discs, you'll need a compatible Blu-ray player to make a Managed Copy, and none exist yet. I've read reports, from Blu-ray.com and elsewhere, that say Playstation 3 owners could make Managed Copies (in Windows Media format only) with a firmware update, but everyone else will have to get new hardware if they want to use this feature.
Here's the real kicker: Movie studios can still charge for Managed Copy, so backing up your Blu-ray disc the legal way might not even be free. I understand that studios don't want you to burn off a copy and give it to a friend, but if studios do charge for a back-up, it'll only encourage people to seek out free workarounds.
For people who just want a digital file, Managed Copy is a fluke. Several studios already pack a digital file on a separate disc or include a file download code in the Blu-ray packaging. And with Disney working on a licensing system that lets you view movies on any device, more consumer-friendly options are already out there if you're not a videophile.
Those who want to preserve the high quality of Blu-ray in their second copy suffer. Sometimes it seems like even Hollywood doesn't want Blu-ray to succeed.
