DVD Jon Creates DRM Killer

Firmafest writes to let us know that 'DVD Jon' Lech Johansen's company has released an open beta of DoubleTwist, a desktop application that allows the user to copy media to any device. There's a Facebook app too. The software is available for download at Doubletwistventures.com. Currently only Windows is supported, but a Macintosh version is on the way.

Comments

I wonder who will be first..

[jskline]

I wonder who will be first to be contacting these guys and threatening legal retaliation based on DMCA.

"You can't copy that tune from there to this device. You must pay another fee!"...

Re:I wonder who will be first..

[infonography]

I wonder who will be first to be contacting these guys and threatening legal retaliation based on DMCA.

"You can't copy that tune from there to this device. You must pay another fee!"... I would guess it would be Prince.

Who else?

Re:I wonder who will be first..

[unlametheweak]

Well if we can get everybody here on Slash to keep this little secret to ourselves, I'm sure there won't be any problems with the MPAA, DMCA or any other organizations harassing the company with lawsuits, etc. To quote the eloquent and charismaticSteve Jobs, "Loose lips sink ships".

Re:I wonder who will be first..

[TheVelvetFlamebait]

"You can't copy that tune from there to this device. You must pay another fee!"...

From the DMCA:

Section 1201 divides technological measures into two categories: measures that prevent unauthorized access to a copyrighted work and measures that prevent unauthorized copying of a copyrighted work. Making or selling devices or services that are used to circumvent either category of technological measure is prohibited in certain circumstances, described below. As to the act of circumvention in itself, the provision prohibits circumventing the first category of technological measures, but not the second.

This distinction was employed to assure that the public will have the continued ability to make fair use of copyrighted works. Since copying of a work may be a fair use under appropriate circumstances, section 1201 does not prohibit the act of circumventing a technological measure that prevents copying. By contrast, since the fair use doctrine is not a defense to the act of gaining unauthorized access to a work, the act of circumventing a technological measure in order to gain access is prohibited.

I am not a lawyer, or by no means competent in reading laws. However, from what I can gather, unless the DRM is designed to prevent you from accessing the content (e.g. napster after your subscription expires), then you may circumvent for fair use. It actually does prohibit "making or selling devices or services that are used to circumvent either category of technological measure", but not owning or being in possession of such goods or services. That means that as long as DVD Jon's actions are legal in whichever country he chooses to stay, he can continue to make and distribute his DRM-circumventing programs, and we can legally download and use them, so long as we don't distribute the programs ourselves (e.g. give it to a friend).

Re:I wonder who will be first..

[McFadden]

Wait, you're crediting a 40's-era propaganda campaign to Steve Jobs?

It's like mp3 players, smart phones, slim notebooks etc... None of them existed until Apple invented them. I thought everyone knew that.

Re:I wonder who will be first..

[edwardpickman]

He knows it's a safe bet suing them since they'd rather settle out of court than admit to having a Prince song on their iPod. That should teach people for bulk downloading without checking what they are downloading. If you've downloaded 30,000 to 50,000 songs then there's a good chance there's a Prince song in the wood pile so you might want to cull them out.

Supported Formants

[milsoRgen]

Supported Media Formats

Video: 3gp (used by most cell phones), MPEG4 (.mp4, .m4v), wmv, avi and MPEG2 (.mpg, .mpv, .mpeg) Audio: mp3, aac/m4a, wma, wav Pictures: jpg, gif, png, bmp

But can it...

[Thelasko]

1)Convert all of my HD DVD movies into Blue Ray movies?

2)Run on Linux

Re:Oh really

[ditoa]

So it is basically doing a software based line-out to line-in (aka loopback) encode? How is this anything special? I have done this for years using nothing but simple audio tools. Or is it doing something more intelligent? (I fail to see how though as it is still lossy -> lossy conversion).

Re:VAC?

[boourns]

Virtual Audio Cable isn't free, while DoubleTwist is.

Oh, great...

[XxtraLarGe]

Every time this dude releases a hack I'm not interested in using, I end up being forced to download a new patch from Apple for my iTunes/iPod if I want to buy new music.

Setup Wants an E-Mail Address

[Anonymous Coward]

On a whim, I tried installing this. Once the setup is complete, it wants my e-mail address to create an "account" for me... and it installs a couple of other programs I didn't agree to. Sorry, not interested - deleted.

Re:Setup Wants an E-Mail Address

[d3ac0n]

Looks like this is an "Online Only" program. Basically, if you don't have an account to sign into, it doesn't work. It is NOT a standalone application, but a networked application.

Looks to me like they are trying to create another Kazaa or Napster.

Too bad. It seemed much nicer when I thought it was a standalone. I have no interest in running yet another networked application just to gain access to what should be a standalone function.

Excuse me, I have to go uninstall this now.

Re:Setup Wants an E-Mail Address

[TheVelvetFlamebait]

Um, if your sig is accurate, how the hell did you end up replying to an AC?

Re:Oh really

[Romancer]

It's special because of two things, the history of the name and the goal of the product. DVD Jon is creating a friendly all encompasing media bridge between online media, local collections and portable devices that "your parents could use" according to the article. This means mass adoption if it works and doesn't get legally raped.

Re:Yes

[moderatorrater]

Of course the whole point is that people can use this to share any kind of media with pretty much anyone It could also be used (and correct me if I'm wrong here, i'm going way out on a limb) for being able to play your music on any device that you want to. Incompatibilities have killed my (legally bought) media before, and that's what I'd use this software for. If I wanted to freely share my any kind of media with anyone else, I'd just download it with limewire or bittorrent.

Re:A utility to copy media to any device

[maxwell demon]

I've been using something like this for awhile, its called "dd" (run as root for extra goodness). I've tried to use it to copy a CD to my mouse, but it didn't work, even when run as root.

in related news

[circletimessquare]

RIAA Creates DVD Jon Killer

Re:Oh really

[compro01]

How is this anything special? it's simple, automated, and usable by pretty much anyone.

Just read the license and Priv. statement

[wethion]

Umm.. after reading them relatively carefully, I don't think I'll be using that software. Basically, you give us your info, we update ourselves on what you're doing, we send it to the Cayman Islands and we promise promise promise never to give it to anyone else unless you agree, we're bought, subpoena'd or otherwise compromised. Somehow... I don't think so. Peace.

Quotable Quotes

[milsoRgen]

The EULA
The Privacy Policy
The Terms of Service

Quotable Quotes

Please note that this Privacy Statement is not a binding contract and does not create any legal rights. It is made available to you so that you can make an informed decision about using the doubleTwist website and services after considering the steps doubleTwist takes to protect your private personal information

doubleTwist" means the SpiceFlow Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands, having its registered office at PO Box 309GT, M&C Corporate Services Limited, Ugland House, South Church St, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, and any SpiceFlow Corporation subsidiaries or affiliated companies.

You acknowledge and agree that doubleTwist, in its sole discretion, may modify or discontinue or suspend Your ability to use any version of the doubleTwist Software, and/or disable any doubleTwist Software You may already have accessed or installed without any notice to You, for the repair, improvement, and/or upgrade of the underlying technology or for any other justifiable reason...

We may use Personal Data to: provide services and customer support You request; resolve disputes, collect fees, and troubleshoot problems; enforce our Terms of Service; customize, measure, and improve doubleTwist Software, VoIP Service and Website content and layout; inform You about targeted marketing, service updates, and promotional offers (unless You opt out)

Re:Yes

[infonography]

Slips out of a tricky situation with regards to breaking DRM. By using a already owned DRM key it doesn't have to break the protection. This keeps the software maker (you know who) out of any sticking 'breaking their encryption issues'. This makes it fairly immune to DMCA attacks thus reducing it to an automated method of converting files. These already methods already exist and it just makes the task easy.

DMCA doesn't apply ourside USofA

[SethJohnson]

threatening legal retaliation based on DMCA.

I'd like to see US law enforced over in Oslo, Norway. Wouldn't that be a hoot.

Seth

Re:DMCA doesn't apply ourside USofA

[aitikin]

Too bad Doubletwist was founded in California in the "USofA" and, as such, is subject to DMCA, regardless of where its programmer's reside.

Re:Oh really

[somersault]

Well, if you must know, there are magical anti-DRM pixies inside the code that lovingly polish every bit as it passes through the transcoding process just to get its guard down, then they sprinkle them with magic pixie dust to remove the DRM, and finish the process with a nice close shave and boot polish. It's a trade secret though so don't tell anyone.

Really though - a DRM remover is a DRM remover, and this just goes to demonstrate that you will *always* be able to break DRM with the analog hole, the whole thing is such a joke.

GUI for Sox, Image Magic and ffmpeg

[flyingfsck]

It sounds like a GUI front-end for Sox, Image Magic and ffmpeg. As such, it should be immensely useful, since running those utilities from a command line is quite a challenge.

Re:What is property?

[Capsaicin]

Anarchists are so cute!

Q: Why do Anarchists drink Herbal Tea?

A: Because proper tea is theft.