Encrypted DVD Films Can Be Cloned For Individual Use

DVD players and other forms of home entertainment are a huge part of family life today, and no wonder. Theater prices are soaring so high, that many people decide to wait for the movie to come out on DVD, rather than paying through the nose to go to the Cineplex.

You could go see the movie again at the theater. Or, you could buy another copy of the movie on DVD.

You�re smart to be concerned. When DVDs first hit the market, they were unprotected and as a result, many movies were copied and sold illegally. To plug a hole in the dike of their profits, and prevent copyright infringement, DVDs companies had to add encryption to the DVDs.

Wrong. With the high cost of movie tickets, more and more people find it cheaper to wait until the movie comes out on disc and buy it on DVD. Watching films on DVD does have some advantages. You can watch it on your schedule, not the theater�s. You don�t have to worry about people behind you chatting so loud you can�t hear the film. And, of course, you can watch the movie again and again and again, without paying any extra money.

Why spend the money and go to all that trouble? Consider this: what if your movie has been watched so often, the disc becoming worn? Or, what if the disc has scratches? Yes, you could simply buy another copy of the movie.

Burning a copy of a copy protected DVD is perfectly legal when the process is used to protect an investment. In other words, if your DVD is scratched or wearing out, you are allowed, by law, to make a copy for your personal use. Copying and selling DVDs for profit is what�s illegal. Preserving a movie on DVD for personal use is perfectly within the law.

Now you�re next question is �How do I decrypt the disc?� You will need to purchase decrypting software to remove the protection files. Availability of decryption software may seem strange, but remember it�s there to protect personal property, NOT for personal gain.

After copying the DVD, run the decrypting software. You will then have all of the movie files on your computer. Now, you strip off the files that aren�t movie-related. Be sure to remove the protection software files, too, so that next time you want to backup this particular movie, you can perform a simple copy.

The result should be files that pertain only to the movie. Now, the film is almost ready to be put onto disk. First, you must again reduce the size of the files to 1/4 normal size. Then simply transfer the movie to a blank disc, and you�ve got a backup copy of your copy protected DVD!

After the files are stripped, reduce the files back to one quarter size. Get a blank DVD disc, and transfer the movie files to it. Tada! You now have a clean copy of your fave flick.

Once you master the process of creating backup copies for you DVDs, you can watch your favorite flicks without concern about wear and tear or damage to the disc. You can always burn a backup copy!