Protecting DVD

[flyfisherman]

Does the LG writer do this??

[Black Lab]

In what way, by preventing copying? Can't be done on a consumer level (read: mucho dinero). And, do a Google search and you'll find 100 DVD rippers that defeat the purpose anyway.

[flyfisherman]

In what way, by preventing copying? Can't be done on a consumer level (read: mucho dinero). And, do a Google search and you'll find 100 DVD rippers that defeat the purpose anyway.

yea I have a USB LG writer and there is supposed to be a copy protector feature, darned if I can find it!

[Ken Berry]

I suspect you may have mis-read or not fully understood what the feature was all about. As far as I am aware, LG has a feature in some of its DVD recorders that prevents *you* from copying protected DVDS AND also some high rated TV programs, including those from cable/satellite TV systems.

I very much doubt whether there is anything at this basic end of the market which would allow you to protect your own video. As Black Lab has already indicated, film companies, TV channels etc spend millions of dollars trying to do it, and there are literally hundreds of programs out there which negate it with no trouble...

[flyfisherman]

"Securdisc" That provides Data protection and access control on media against unauthorized use throughan opitical drive-software combined solution?? I think if you type "Securedisc" into your search engineyou will find it?

[Ron P.]

Securdisc is something totally different than actually protecting your CD/DVDs from being copied. The CSS or Macrovision that you find on commercially produced media, like Black Lab and Ken stated, are the best available, very, very expensive, and yet can be circumvented quite easily.

After reading your post I tried to locate a post where links were posted to the licensing fees for either CSS or Macrovision. You need about $30,000 (US) initial setup fee, than another $10k-$20k per year and I don't recall the minimum number of discs required or allowed.

So if the $50k boys technology can be beat by some relatively cheap software, do think that Securdisk is really going to provide much security?

[Ken Berry]

Ah yes! That now rings a very faint bell. In fact, I am embarrassed to confess that I have not just one, but two, LG writers (LG GSA-H55N) which are SecurDisc rated. (Indeed, I am staring at one on this computer as I write, which has the SecurDisc logo on its disc tray!!) I recall reading this when I installed them, and the necessary software came with the drives. In fact, I even installed the software on one of my computers with the drive because it also had an automatic firmware update feature which actually worked.

Luckily, I still have the documentation which came with the drives, and indeed the installation disc! But I am afraid it will probably not help in burning video DVDs. As far as I can see, it will only work if you use Nero's InCD module (SecurDisc was apparently developed by Nero in collaboration with LG/Hitachi Data Storage). The installation disk which comes with the drive also contains a cut down version of Nero called Nero Express which installs InCD automatically (see below for further comment on this).

So essentially SecurDisk is meant as a *data* protection device as opposed to video (which uses different disk recording start-up codes). Moreover, as far as I can see, the disk actually has to be burned using InCD, which of course will burn data discs (CDs and DVDs) but not video discs. Essentially, InCD asks you to key in an acceptable password/code of at least 16 characters. The person you send the disc to also has to have at least Nero 7 with SecurDisc module to play the disc, and it will ask for the encoding password before it will play it. Not a particularly practical way, I would have thought, of distributing a video to friends and family anyway.

More to the point, InCD is an acknowledged pest when it comes to burning DVDs (or CDs). It is one of many examples of what is called 'packet writing software'. These tend to take control of a burner and deny access to it by other programs including Video Studio. This is a well known problem, much discussed on various internet forums, including this one. In fact, Nero itself acknowledged that problem by removing InCD from the automatic installation sequence which installed it as part of the Nero suite with version 6 and earlier. Since version 7, you have to consciously install it by using a customised install and ticking the box for InCD.

Many users, and I mean many, including myself, have had this problem with InCD. Unfortunately, the only way of getting access back for Video Studio to the burner is to completely uninstall InCD. It does not, unlike other similar modules in suites such as the Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite, allow itself to be temporarily disabled.

[flyfisherman]

will save me the time trying to figure it out! Do the LG writers fit right in your comp, like in my HP with the extra flap (door) over the drive?? Will they work with the eject buttons on my keyboard. BTW this is a great forum and Ulead is a great product, I was about to go nuts trying to get Cyberlink crap to work, with no help at all from their forums., and four day wait for customer service.

[2BaD]

Wouldent putting a digital watermark inside the video be anygood for security because some watermarks can be a pain to remove! ive never heard of a writer that comes with security built in that lets you protect your dvds ect! although theres plenty of software out there to do this, some better then others.

[Ken Berry]

The LG writers, whether SecurDisc or not, are standard size and configuration. The one in my main computer just sits in a normal slot, below a Pioneer SATA DVD burner. However, the other one in fact just happens to sit in a tower case which has those decorative flaps. However, the decorative button on the flap is aligned with the LG Open button, and so that too works just fine.

[flyfisherman]

The LG writers, whether SecurDisc or not, are standard size and configuration. The one in my main computer just sits in a normal slot, below a Pioneer SATA DVD burner. However, the other one in fact just happens to sit in a tower case which has those decorative flaps. However, the decorative button on the flap is aligned with the LG Open button, and so that too works just fine.

THANKS KEN Ulead has a great product but the folks on this forum are even greater!! I am having so much fun with the Ulead software, I was about to hang editing up with some of the other crappy software I tried. THANKS AGAIN