AnyDVD
Encyclopedia
AnyDVD is a Microsoft Windows
driver
allowing decryption of DVD
s on-the-fly, as well as targeted removal of copy preventions and user operation prohibitions (UOPs)
. With an upgrade, it will also do the same for HD DVD
and Blu-ray
. The AnyDVD program runs in the background, making discs unrestricted and region-free
. In addition to removing digital restrictions, AnyDVD will also defeat Macrovision
analog copy prevention. Analog prevention distorts the video signal to prevent high quality copying from the output. AnyDVD is also able to remove copy-prevention from audio CDs.
As of version 6.1.4.3, AnyDVD has a revised ripper that removes Sony
ARccOS Protection
, Macrovision
RipGuard, and other structural preventions and repairs both intentional and unintentional mastering errors. It ensures strict compliance with third-party tools, particularly DVD Shrink
and Nero Recode.
The ripper module is based on code from Elby's CloneDVD
. Previous versions used a ripper based on FixVTS, but FixVTS was recently shut down by legal threats from Sony.
support, including decryption of AACS
encrypted HD DVD movie discs. Support for AACS encryption and Region Code removal from Blu-ray Disc
s was added in version 6.1.3.0, released March 5, 2007.
Besides dealing with DVD copying issues, AnyDVD can also work in the background to automatically detect and remove additional data sessions contained on Audio CDs which contain copy-prevention measures. This allows audio tracks to be directly accessed on the system for direct playback and for access by CD extraction software. Intentional tracking errors in the audio may also be discovered, for example, those errors involved with key2AudioXS, which may cause major skipping distortions in the ripped audio tracks. By bypassing these methods AnyDVD can provide clean, distortion-free playback and ripping.
On March 19, 2008, SlySoft released version 6.4.0.0 of AnyDVD HD, which removes BD+
as well. Some Blu-ray software players have removed the ability of movie playback from folders on a hard drive. AnyDVD HD has since included the ability to rip movies to an ISO format.
(but possession and use on personally owned media is not), as it removes copy prevention from DVDs. The Heise news portal
was sued by the record industry for linking to SlySoft's website in a news report. The publisher subsequently counter sued with claims of violation of their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press and has as of April 2007 lost two appeal proceedings. The German Federal Constitutional Court
has decided not to rule on Heise's appeal for the time being because remedies in the ordinary courts had not been exhausted. In October 2010 the Federal Court of Justice of Germany
decided in favor of Heise. This verdict is now legally binding.
The legal status of AnyDVD in other countries is unclear.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
allowing decryption of DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s on-the-fly, as well as targeted removal of copy preventions and user operation prohibitions (UOPs)
User operation prohibition
The user operation prohibition is a form of use restriction used on video DVD discs and Blu-ray discs. Most DVD players and Blu-ray players prohibit the viewer from performing a large majority of actions during sections of a DVD that are protected or restricted by this feature, and will display...
. With an upgrade, it will also do the same for HD DVD
HD DVD
HD DVD is a discontinued high-density optical disc format for storing data and high-definition video.Supported principally by Toshiba, HD DVD was envisioned to be the successor to the standard DVD format...
and Blu-ray
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
. The AnyDVD program runs in the background, making discs unrestricted and region-free
Regional lockout
Regional lockout is the programming practice, code, chip, or physical barrier used to prevent the playing of media designed for a device from the country where it is marketed on the version of the same device marketed in another country.-Video games:...
. In addition to removing digital restrictions, AnyDVD will also defeat Macrovision
Macrovision
Rovi Corporation is a globally operating, US-based company that provides guidance technology, entertainment data, copy protection, industry standard networking and media management technology for digital entertainment devices and services...
analog copy prevention. Analog prevention distorts the video signal to prevent high quality copying from the output. AnyDVD is also able to remove copy-prevention from audio CDs.
As of version 6.1.4.3, AnyDVD has a revised ripper that removes Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
ARccOS Protection
ARccOS Protection
ARccOS is a copy-protection system made by Sony that is used on some DVDs. Designed as an additional layer to be used in conjunction with Content Scramble System , the system deliberately creates corrupted sectors on the DVD, which cause copying software to produce errors .Despite being promoted...
, Macrovision
Macrovision
Rovi Corporation is a globally operating, US-based company that provides guidance technology, entertainment data, copy protection, industry standard networking and media management technology for digital entertainment devices and services...
RipGuard, and other structural preventions and repairs both intentional and unintentional mastering errors. It ensures strict compliance with third-party tools, particularly DVD Shrink
DVD Shrink
DVD Shrink is a freeware DVD transcoder program for Microsoft Windows that uses a DVD ripper to back up DVD movies. The final versions are 3.2.0.15 and 3.2.0.16 ; all other versions, such as DVD Shrink 2010, are scams...
and Nero Recode.
The ripper module is based on code from Elby's CloneDVD
CloneDVD
CloneDVD is a proprietary DVD cloning software, developed by Elaborate Bytes, that can be used to make backup copies of any DVD movie not copy-protected . The program is able to transcode a dual layer DVD movie to fit it onto a DVD-R, DVD+R or DVD+R DL disc...
. Previous versions used a ripper based on FixVTS, but FixVTS was recently shut down by legal threats from Sony.
Advanced technical characteristics
On February 17, 2007, SlySoft released AnyDVD HD. The program comes with the same functionality as AnyDVD, but with additional features for full HD DVDHD DVD
HD DVD is a discontinued high-density optical disc format for storing data and high-definition video.Supported principally by Toshiba, HD DVD was envisioned to be the successor to the standard DVD format...
support, including decryption of AACS
Advanced Access Content System
The Advanced Access Content System is a standard for content distribution and digital rights management, intended to restrict access to and copying of the "next generation" of optical discs and DVDs. The specification was publicly released in April 2005 and the standard has been adopted as the...
encrypted HD DVD movie discs. Support for AACS encryption and Region Code removal from Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
s was added in version 6.1.3.0, released March 5, 2007.
Besides dealing with DVD copying issues, AnyDVD can also work in the background to automatically detect and remove additional data sessions contained on Audio CDs which contain copy-prevention measures. This allows audio tracks to be directly accessed on the system for direct playback and for access by CD extraction software. Intentional tracking errors in the audio may also be discovered, for example, those errors involved with key2AudioXS, which may cause major skipping distortions in the ripped audio tracks. By bypassing these methods AnyDVD can provide clean, distortion-free playback and ripping.
On March 19, 2008, SlySoft released version 6.4.0.0 of AnyDVD HD, which removes BD+
BD+
BD+ is a component of the Blu-ray Disc Digital Rights Management system. It was developed by Cryptography Research Inc. and is based on their Self-Protecting Digital Content concept...
as well. Some Blu-ray software players have removed the ability of movie playback from folders on a hard drive. AnyDVD HD has since included the ability to rip movies to an ISO format.
Legal issues
Advertising, sale, and lending of AnyDVD is outlawed in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(but possession and use on personally owned media is not), as it removes copy prevention from DVDs. The Heise news portal
Heinz Heise
Heinz Heise is a publishing house based in Germany.- History :Heise was created in Hanover in 1949 as an address and telephone directory publisher, then later expanded to include magazines and loose leaf collections. In 2001, the company was divided into separate enterprises, all of which came...
was sued by the record industry for linking to SlySoft's website in a news report. The publisher subsequently counter sued with claims of violation of their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press and has as of April 2007 lost two appeal proceedings. The German Federal Constitutional Court
Federal Constitutional Court of Germany
The Federal Constitutional Court is a special court established by the Grundgesetz, the German basic law...
has decided not to rule on Heise's appeal for the time being because remedies in the ordinary courts had not been exhausted. In October 2010 the Federal Court of Justice of Germany
Federal Court of Justice of Germany
The Federal Court of Justice of Germany in Karlsruhe is the highest court in the system of ordinary jurisdiction in Germany. It is the supreme court in all matters of criminal and private law...
decided in favor of Heise. This verdict is now legally binding.
The legal status of AnyDVD in other countries is unclear.
See also
- SlySoftSlySoftSlySoft Inc. is a software company located in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. Its products consist of software to back up and convert digital media, including CDs, DVDs, HD DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs, as well as copy and back up optical media and render PC-based games playable without the...
- CloneCDCloneCDCloneCD is proprietary optical disc authoring software that makes exact, 1:1 copies of music and data CDs and DVDs, regardless of any Digital Rights Management restrictions. It was originally written by Oliver Kastl and offered by Swiss company Elaborate Bytes, but due to changes in European...
- CloneDVDCloneDVDCloneDVD is a proprietary DVD cloning software, developed by Elaborate Bytes, that can be used to make backup copies of any DVD movie not copy-protected . The program is able to transcode a dual layer DVD movie to fit it onto a DVD-R, DVD+R or DVD+R DL disc...
- DVDFabDVDFabDVDFab is a Microsoft Windows program that allows the decryption and copying of video DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and some HD DVDs. Its distribution is based in Beijing.-Features:...
- DVD ripperDVD ripperA DVD ripper is a software program that facilitates copying the content of a DVD to a hard disk drive. They are mainly used to transfer video on DVDs to different formats, to edit or back up DVD content, and to convert DVD video for playback on media players and mobile devices...
: Software packages with features similar to AnyDVD