Andre Yoskowitz
4 Jul 2007 15:10
After months of false starts, DVD burning and legal movie downloading got a huge boost this week when the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD-CCA) approved a final amendment that will allow movie downloading services and DVD kiosk companies to offer on-demand disc burning using CSS-encrypted copy protection.
The amendment should be finalized by the end of the week at which point the changes will become effective. Then, movie download service will be able to offer movies that can be downloaded and burnt to physical DVDs as well as played on standalone players. The move should be a huge boost for movie download services due to the added appeal of being able to own the DVD after you download it.
"CSS is that line in the sand," TitleMatch chief technology officer Aaron Knoll said last week during the Entertainment Supply Chain Academy conference in Los Angeles. "Once there is the ability to legally replicate CSS [on such discs], we expect the coffers to open up."
The first hurdle in the process was getting Panasonic, which is one of a few companies that controls the master license to CSS, to agree with the move. Panasonic declined to accept the amendment when it was first tried in April.
Now, with the new licenses, retailers will be able to go to software companies such as Sonic for programs that will provide CSS-encrypted burning.
"Up to 50% of retail purchasers can't find the title that they want to buy, because it's not in stock," said Jim Taylor, senior VP and general manager of the advanced technology group at Sonic Solutions. "There is a huge untapped demand that can't be met because of shelf space limitations".
Sonic also said it has had a software package developed that would allow burning using CSS, but distribution was riding on the approval of the amendment.
There is however, like always, a catch. According to Video Business, consumers will need to buy a new DVD writer as well as a specific (probably new) type of DVD-R disc.
More updates as they become available.
Source:
CNN