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Adam Bresson Demonstrates Fair Use at DefCon

Posted by timothy on from the shameful-that-this-should-be-remarkable dept.

nigelc writes: "Adam Bresson showed how to make copies of copyright-protected videos in a speech at DefCon. To quote the article, 'I hope he's got a lawyer and that they talked to somebody'" From the article, it sounds like Bresson simply used a video conversion box to defeat MacroVision -- something my notorious criminal father has been doing for years.

10 of 305 comments (clear)

  1. Blah, which some knowhow you can get rid of it by SkipToMyLou · · Score: 5, Informative

    On some DVD players, you can disable Macrovision by means of uploading a new ROM into the player by burning it onto an ISO 9660 CD-R, or by hitting a secret key combination on the remote. It's mostly APEXes and Daewoos that let you do this; ironic that they are the cheapest yet most hackable DVD players. I have a cute little APEX I scored for $70 at Circuit City... that sucker plays DVDs, VCDs, SVCDs, CD-Rs, MP3s (!), and they kitchen sink. Most DVD players have a "Factory setting" menu that you can get to, but you need to know the secret code. Of course you'd never get goodies like this from the big boys (aka Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic).

    1. Re:Blah, which some knowhow you can get rid of it by Tom · · Score: 2, Informative

      > Of course you'd never get goodies like this from the big boys
      > (aka Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic).

      what a surprise, given that the big players were part of the cartel that developed the whole CSS bullshit.

      --
      Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
  2. Just use a "video cleaner" by sgtsanity · · Score: 3, Informative

    It cleans up the signal and incidentally also removes the copy protection. Remember kids, the RIAA says that violating fair use is the fifth horseman of the apocalypse.

  3. Anyone can do this... by k0ala · · Score: 3, Informative

    Any RF Modulator strips MacroVision.. Always has Always Will kinda deal... Same boxes he shamed everyone into buying were picked up at RadioShack and Wal-Mart for less than 35$

    --
    "Hollowpoints: When you care enough to send the very best."
    1. Re:Anyone can do this... by metatruk · · Score: 4, Informative

      Not so. Macrovision works by pulsating the intensity of the video sync signal. This fluctuation in intensity fools the AGC circuit in the recieving deck causing the picture colors to become distorted, and brighter and dimmer. TVs do not contain this AGC circuit, and therefore, are unaffected by macrovision. A more detailed explanation can be found here: http://www.repairfaq.org/filipg/LINK/F_MacroVision 1.html#MACROVISION_016

    2. Re:Anyone can do this... by parkrrrr · · Score: 2, Informative

      This would be "informative" if it were true, but it's not. I use an RF modulator with my DVD player; I have to, because my TV is too old to have composite inputs. The way my system is wired, the output from the modulator goes into the input of my VCR. Surprise, surprise: if the VCR's tuner is on, I get the usual Macrovision effects (high saturation, low brightness) on the signal.

      A little thought shows why this is: the Macrovision signal is just a very high-intensity band of very bright signal inserted just after the colorburst signal at the start of some video fields. It's completely in-band (if a little hot) so your modulator will be more than happy to add it to the modulated signal and pass it on down the chain.

  4. Why spend $200? by Quixote · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why spend $200 on a box to make a copy of a DVD, when my sub-$100 DVD player will do it for free? Plus, it has no region coding either. Go Apex!

  5. MacroVision Defeating Hardware...?!?! by philovivero · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was at Best Buy a few days ago and found a device into which you plug any two audio/visual devices, and which stated that it would "even out erratic signal levels, enabling the VCR to get a clean image again."

    It is a MacroVision-defeating hardware device, prepackaged, for $50 or so.

    I was actually a bit astounded that someone hadn't come and stomped on the balls of this company.

    For my money, though, it's VideoLan Client or nothing.

    --
    fifth sigma, inc.
  6. Re:Huh by monkeydo · · Score: 3, Informative
    What if you're making a copy because you're worried that you are going to lose or damage the original? Fair use, right?

    If the original is a computer program, right. If the original is a video tape, wrong. From USC, Title 17, Chapter 1:
    Sec. 107. - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use

    Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include
    Nothing in there about backup copies.

    From Section 117:
    Sec. 117. - Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs

    (a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy. - Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:

    (1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or

    (2) that such new copy or adaptation is for archival purposes only and that all archival copies are destroyed in the event that continued possession of the computer program should cease to be rightful.
    So the privilege of making backup copies only applies to computer programs (and possibly rare printed material in certain circumstances) but not videos, CDs, DVDs, etc. It would appear that you and Timothy are both mistaken.

    --
    Si vis pacem, para bellum
    The only thing more annoying than a Libertarian is an (un|mis)informed Libertarian
  7. Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge by BMonger · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't sue me but.... I bought the Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge a few months back and well, I haven't had a single problem with Macrovision. I actually bought it to put some old home movies onto my flat-panel iMac. Then I decided to put some of my out of print VHS movies onto DVD. I don't know if they have macrovision or not but they worked fine. Then I remembered about Macrovision and attempted to copy the DVD "Go" to VHS from DVD player to VCR. That didn't work due to Macrovision but when I used the DV Bridge as a pass-through it worked just fine.

    This is a rather nice side effect so now if I ever get motivated I can make some music videos or something for fun.