iTunes Digital Copy from Fox DVD goes under the microscope

Where the failed promise of Managed Copy on Blu-ray and HD DVD left us all hanging, Apple, iTunes, and Fox have oddly picked up the pieces. As paradoxically quietly announced at this week's Jobsnote, the new Family Guy Presents Blue Harvest DVD comes with an included movie file that one can pull off the disc onto their machine -- but only by making use of an included code (and a copy of iTunes with a valid account, of course), which ensures the DRM is still there. What's unclear is whether the movie file is DRMed before being pulled off the disc, or is encrypted specific to one's account during the process of download from the disc. Ultimately these details won't change the fact that iTunes Digital Copy is a ripe target for people who wants to legitimately buy their media, yet doesn't think it should be friggin' rights managed. Crazy, we know.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2008 9:10PM]

sweet

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2008 9:13PM]

sweet

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 1:14AM]

Has anyone else actually tried this? I keep getting an error from iTunes when I try!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 9:00AM]

I did this last night. Had it on my iphone within a minute or two. I also tried ripping a movie using mactheripper, and it didn't turn out right. I'm hoping more studios go this route, because my dream is to not buy another ps3(sold first) so I can watch blu ray movies.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 9:04AM]

Mine worked late last night. Looks great on my iPod touch.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 9:11AM]

Sorry, but this particular statement comes to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKiIroiCvZ0

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 10:48AM]

Ok here is the run down on this because I bought it two days ago.

First, I don't use iTunes or have an iPod so I chose the option to use it via WMP. As soon as I started the program it froze. I contacted CS and they said that I needed to download DRM updates from MS. Like hell I was going to do that!

Instead, I explored the contents of the digital copy disc, found the blue harvest file and copied it over to my computer. After opening it in WMP a dialog box came up asking for the serial number that was on the box, I put it in, and it started playing.

So yes it is DRMed before you take it off the CD but you do not have to use their program or get a DRM update from Microsoft.

Now here is the kicker though, some of you may know of a nice program called "FairUse4WM" and much to my delight it pulled the DRM right off the video file. I happily synced to my Zune after that with no issues.

Take that Fox DRM!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2008 10:52AM]

LOL, I forgot that I was pointing out in the first place that there are two options on the disc, one for iTunes and the other for WMP.

I personally don't know anything about the DRM on the iTunes stuff (my last iPod was before color!). The WM had PlaysforSure DRM and it said it was compatible with portable devices that accepted PfS. The Zune does not.