Macrovision Video Copyright Protection

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Macrovision is a company that develops copy protection schemes for DVDs, VHS Tapes and Television Content.

The original Macrovision copy protection was used on VHS tapes to prevent consumers from connecting two VCR's together with RCA style cables and dubbing VHS tapes. Video Rental was the source for much video piracy. This type of Macrovision worked by abusing the Auto Gain Control (AGC) features of a video-recorder.

Normally the AGC is supposed to amplify weak signals and dimm the too strong signals. MacroVision now inserts bright white and black signals in the non-visable area of the TV-picture. The additional video information may make the AGC think that a sound picture is way to bright or way to dark. The AGC kicks in and adjusts the video output to what it thinks should be. For example the picture get's to dark or to bright.

Since VCR unites are typically equipped with an AGC circuit, this prevent VHS copy from producing a desirable video replica. Televisions are not equipped with an AGC circuit so Macrovision did not impact direct viewing from VCR to Television set.

What is really lame is that now in the digital age purposely recognize Macrovision to produce the Macrovision effect or refuse to copy a video source containing Macrovision when there is actually no real purpose for an AGC circuit in a digital recorder. Video capture cards such as the ATI Video Wonder or ATI All in Wonder have went to extra lengths to make sure their hardware and/or software detects the Macrovision signal and thus refuse to record or encode the video source. This isn't even tricking an AGC, it is outright pandering by companies to DRM schemes that restrict our freedom.

Another good example of a company pandering to the industry that is taking away our freedom is the DVR market. The Captive Works CW-100R would otherwise be a nice, low cost consumer DVR except, although there is no actual use for an AGC circuit, purposely has means to detect Macrovision and block your ability to record the video source.

TiVo is a big offender in placating an industry set out to restrict our freedom. TiVo DVR, also recognize and support Macrovision’s copy protection schemes. The copy protection schemes are deployed by the content/program providers and are limited to specific programs like Pay-per-View, Video on demand or DVD/VHS sources. TiVo responds to the Macrovision’s following Copy protection rules that dictate how long the video may be saved on the TiVo drive, or outright refusing to record the program.

This is a restriction for consumers trying to make backups of their prized movie collection that they legally purchased. Aging VHS tapes can be copied digitally to preserve them, and DVD's backed up - except when Macrovision stopped the consumer from doing so.

VHS & DVD Protection

The protection is achieved by implanting physical synchronization vertical signals directly onto VHS tapes. But in case the signal is not physically stored on DVDs rather DVDs are associated with instructions that tell DVD players to create and impose such signals and cause hindrance in recording.

These DVD players contain a special chip licensed by Macrovision. In some jurisdictions inclusion of the chip is required by the government, a sign of the success of Sony, Time Warner, and the MPAA in using the government as a tool.

Protection against Macrovision

Since DVDs are not encoded physically by the signals so it is quite easy to get rid of macrovision scheme by just configuring the DVD player to not to bother about the instructions associated with macrovision. Moreover for video or VHS there are devices available as video stabilizers or enhancers that disables the macrovision spikes by detecting the encoded signals (vertical synchronization signals) and leveling them back to the original level.

In February 2005 Macrovision introduced a new protection technology named as Rip-Guard and claimed that 97% of DVD rippers will fail to disable this technology.

DVD Player

A standard DVD player contains a special Macrovision-enabled digital-analog conver chip that is activated when a DVD is played. The activated chip applies copy protection to the analog output and causes copies made on most VCRs to be substantially degraded.

When you go to purchase a new DVD player try to find one that doesn't support Macrovision. This may not be easy as the vast majority of DVD players do. Models for sale in the United States are required to include a Macrovision chip. Macrovision is a litigation happy company that likes to use lawsuits to force DVD manufacturers into purchasing Macrovision technology and including it in their DVD players.

Some DVD players have hacks available to them that will disable Macrovision, much like the region code hacks for DVD players. There are certain code words used to advertise DVD players that have been modified to defeat Macrovision, such terms are: Black Magic,Bullet Proof, and Recorder Friendly. You will see those terms used on auction sites such as eBay as to avoid being delisted. Updating the firmware with a aftermarket / hacked firmware is how it is done.

  • Apex's AD-600A - can disable macrovision through a hidden menu (not all units had the menu)
  • Apex 1500 - macrovision disabled through aftermarket firmware upgrade
  • Panasonic DMR-E20 - ?
  • WINTAL PDVD2025 - PAL only
  • Mustek DVD - ? old model ?

Macrovision Signal Removal

Macrovision's Colorstripe mode can be defeated simply by using Component Output, which does not support burst.

Macrovision's AGC mode can be defeated with a number of off-the-shelf devices that regenerate a proper video blanking signal.

In addition, some DVD players do not enable Macrovision and others can be modified to turn off Macrovision.

VHS to VHS or VHS to Digital

A Digital Video Stabilizer is a device that, not necessarily advertised as the manufactured purpose, can be used to remove the Macrovision signal so a video source can be dubbed.

Video Capture to a PC

The PV-231 real-time VCD PCI video/audio capture card card does not detect Macrovision and will copy from any Macrovision polluted video source without compromising the signal quality. Unfortunately, the PV-231 real-time VCD PCI video/audio capture card is an antiquated, lower quality video capture device.

The ADS iDVD also called the ADS Instant DVD will completely ignore Macrovision. This little box cheerfully encodes any video source without regards to whatever pathetic analog copy protection is present. The ADS Technologies Instant DVD (iDVD) truly takes advantage of the analog hole.

Resources

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