(22 September 2007 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: For the first time, commercial vendors and individual consumers will be able to legally create CSS copy-protected DVDs for playback on existing DVD players.

The board of directors of the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) gave final approval on 20 September for the 'CSS Managed Recording' technology, which was also approved by the DVD Forum in 2006.

With this new application of the Content Scramble System (CSS), the copy protection used on most commercially produced DVDs, vendors could, for example, create protected DVDs in custom runs at new on-demand factories or on store-based kiosks.

Individual consumers will also be able to legally record a variety of content at home, including select movies, as offered by the content owners. In addition, consumers could obtain historical or special content that is now unavailable on DVD because existing demand does not economically allow the mass reproduction today's market requires.

The process will use special blank DVD discs with CSS encryption. The copies will be compatible with DVD players in homes and businesses today.

"This important change is in direct response to industry and consumer demand for new legal alternatives for the creation and digital distribution of secure DVD content," said DVD CCA board chairman Chris Cookson. "Now that the process needed to enable this exciting capability is complete, we anticipate that new products and services will quickly appear in the marketplace."

The DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) is a not-for-profit corporation with responsibility for licensing CSS (Content Scramble System) to manufacturers of DVD hardware, discs and related products. Licensees include the owners and manufacturers of the content of DVD discs; creators of encryption engines, hardware and software decrypters; and manufacturers of DVD Players and DVD-ROM drives.

The CSS is the protection system that has enabled the content owners to provide consumers access to high quality DVD movies, television programs and other entertainment for home viewing on their video systems and computers.