Just a week after the DVD CCA approved an unexciting (and incredibly restrictive)
download-to-burn scheme, DataPlay has unveiled what it calls the "world's first CSS-managed recording DVD burner." Of course, this isn't the
first time we've heard about this type of setup, and as it turns out, DataPlay is actually "participating in the
Qflix technology and IP licensing program." The aptly-named MovieWriter is an external USB 2.0 device that is "capable of writing CSS encrypted content for playback on standard DVD players," but alas, you'll be forced to pick up the presumably expensive CSS-MR pre-keyed recordable discs through Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden before any burning can take place. Currently, no pricetag is being listed, but we are told that the outfit is already planning an internal version for OEMs to integrate into pre-fabricated machines. [Warning: PDF read link]
posted Sep 28th 2007 2:27AM
I don't think this is the first, "authoring" DVD drives and "authoring" media can write valid CSS-encoded DVDs, and I think that type of drive and media was the first type of DVD writer to be released.
It's all very silly anyway, all CSS stops is commercial DVD software and commercial set top boxes from decrypting it for copying. It's not that hard to dig up underground software that will do this.
What a lame Idea. I'd rather just buy the DVD, it'll be cheaper anyway. If I could download the movie and burn it onto one of these special Disc's for $5 and play it on anything I want great. If they are going to charge $19.95 and you have to buy this drive and buy the media, Why would anyone in their right mind do it? Of course they will wonder why it failed and blame it on Piracy.