Macrovision hits P2P with DoS attacks and improves CD DRM

Macrovision is ready to launch its new CD copy protection system in the upcoming weeks.  Unlike previous CD anti-copy measures, Macrovision's system allows the consumer to make a limited number of copies of the original, but each copy is protected to prevent further copying.  They claim their technology has a competitive advantage over Suncomm by being resistant to the Shift-key attack.   So far they had unsuccessful talks with Apple to implement this technology with iTunes.  They are also working to make iTunes, Sony's MagicGate and Windows Media DRM technologies interoperate.

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While the RIAA are content that suing consumers reduces file sharing, Macrovision have another technique by making file sharing experience less interesting.  They have setup various servers around the globe to search for finger-printed copyrighted content (Audio, Video and software) and then setting up Decoys and performing Denial of Service attacks to slow down the transfer from these hosts.  The Decoys work by sharing content under the same name so that if the downloader does get a successful download, it may not be their expected content.

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Finally Macrovision is working on closing the analogue loophole with both CDs and DVDs.  They claim that only around 60% to 65% of all DVDs use their technology and would like this to improve.  They also have patented technology to only protect key parts of DVDs, so a VCR copy may appear fine until the viewer reaches certain key scenes.  GristyMcFisty submitted the following news via our news submit :

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This year's horizons for Macrovision, the highly valued content protection company, include a system to defeat file-sharing, a new, more effective, CD copy protection system and a shot at an interoperable Digital Rights Management system of its own.

The first two of these systems are virtually ready to go and CEO Bill Krepick reckons they will catapult company revenues based on music protection from a few percentage points now, to a major new revenue stream for the company. The third system on DRM, he admits, might not be so straightforward.

The new CD system will be operational in weeks and will allow a set number of CD copies to be burned from a protected CD, but each copy will be content protected. At the moment any system that allows CD copies to be made doesn't also copy the protection system.

The new file sharing system has been in tests for months now and has just gone into Beta with a major music company, ready for general release probably later this year. It works by finding finger-printed copyright works and setting up decoys and creating denial of service requests (or something similar) to slow down delivery of illegally offered files.

The company is also trying to see if it can find a way of making Apple's Fairplay, Microsoft's Windows Media DRM and Sony's MagicGate DRM all interoperate.

All of this came out in an interview with Krepick this week, where we got to ask a question that we often get asked, which is what makes Macrovision worth so much.

Investors have asked us if the stock is too high to invest in further, or if there is any point in shorting it. Players that feel they have to license Macrovision technology ask if there is any alternative. Perhaps the interview provides some answers.

Krepick's comments show that the word Vision is very much alive in the company Macrovision.

Read the full rather lengthy article here.

 

With a good portion of the Internet's bandwidth being used by file sharing services, it looks like that all Macrovision's Decoy servers put together have to send out a vast quantity of traffic to disrupt the wide range of content shared on the networks.  However, their technique does seem to be working with quite a number of users complaining about fakes and slow performance on file sharing networks.  It is not clear if their DoS attacks attack file sharers (or the users downloading) like how hijacked hosts could be used to bring down a website. 

 


While Macrovision claims that the Analogue loophole in DVD players is where a DVD is most vulnerable to copying, I rarely hear of any VHS these days.  In
fact, most consumers would just lend a DVD to a friend for them to watch rather
than take the time to make a low quality VHS copy even if there was not
protection against the Analogue source.

 

Feel free to discuss and find out more about copy protection measures on our Copy Protection Discussion Forum.

Source: The Register - eCommerce

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