Blu-ray standard to gain legal copying in 2010
updated 12:50 pm EDT, Fri June 12, 2009
Blu-ray Managed Copy
An updated version of the Blu-ray standard will allow for limited copying, the head of the group behind the format's copy protection has acknowledged. Michael Ayers, chairman of the AACS Licensing Authority, confirms that almost all discs released after the first quarter of 2010 should allow one full-resolution copy, known as a Managed Copy. Videos will be writable to Blu-ray or DVD discs, or a Windows Media DRM-compatible file; alternately, a file may be included on-disc.
New players will be needed to support the feature however, and some distributors may choose to charge for copies, or simply disable the option if they are small and/or missing the full rights to material. Apple has also declined to provide support for files in its own format, making it difficult or impossible to sync videos with the likes of iPods, iPhones and Apple TVs. The company has generally resisted supporting Blu-ray on Macs, favoring downloads from its own iTunes Store.
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Joined: Aug 2001
That's right!
It's the "Sure you bought the DVD, but if you want to make a copy in case our DVD media bites the big one, we're going to charge you extra! It's to cover all our costs for the copy, that's all." argument.