From: mike 


Somewhat related:  The Rosetta Stone language learning software uses some
manner of Macrovision DRM on the CDs.   The end result is random
hangs.

 /m



On Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:43:33 -0400, "Rich Gauszka"
 wrote:

>Macrovision must be protecting us from playing war movies on our computers
>
>"Flags of our Fathers" by Warner Bros, "We Were
Soldiers" by Paramount, and
>"Battlestar Galactica 2.5" ;-)
>
>http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2007/04/a_macro_vision.html?sou
rce=NLC-GRIPE&cgd=2007-04-10
>
>What do you when Digital Rights Management (DRM) keeps you from using a
>product that you legitimately purchased? Who can help you figure out how to
>make it work - the publisher of the material, the manufacturer of the
>playing device, or the DRM supplier? Those were the questions one reader had
>after he discovered that three DVDs that couldn't all play in his computer
>were all "protected" by Macrovision DRM.
>
>
>
>"I recently let my girlfriend borrow my DVD player because hers
went out,"
>the reader wrote. "Well, I thought, that's okay because my computer is
>hooked up to my TV and I had a DVD drive on the computer so I can still
>watch my movie collection. Boy, was I wrong. It seems that three out of the
>last four DVD movies I had just bought will not play on my computer."
>
>
>
>The DVDs that wouldn't play were "Flags of our Fathers" by
Warner Bros, "We
>Were Soldiers" by Paramount, and "Battlestar Galactica
2.5" by Universal,
>the reader said. "Each time it comes up with 'Macrovision distribution
>failed' error message and playback is not possible. These movies were
>purchased at WalMart just days before, but here I am with legal copies of
>DVD movies and I can't play them. A couple of days later when my DVD player
>was back, the movies play just fine on the player."
>
>
>
>Before the reader got his DVD player back, he tried doing some
>troubleshooting on the problem. "I did some checking on the Internet, and
>some people said that if you have a DVD burner on your system, the
>Macrovision distribution fails. There was also another explanation that the
>newer Nvidia drivers for my graphics card won't support Macrovision with a
>DVD burner installed. I don't know, but I think this is ridiculous that I
>would have to revert to a older driver for my graphics card just to watch a
>movie."
>
>
>
>The reader wasn't going to waste any more time trying to get past the
>Macrovision DRM, but I thought his experience raised some interesting
>questions about who you are supposed to call when you're unfairly thwarted
>by copy protection schemes. So I contacted Macrovision to see if they could
>suggest why these three particular titles wouldn't play in the reader's
>computer. And I hoped they might be able to tell exactly how the average
>consumer should go about troubleshooting this kind of DRM problem.
>
>
>
>After checking with Macrovision technical staff, a Macrovision spokesperson
>got back to me with a rather lengthy answer. "Macrovision routinely tests
>its DVD protection technology (RipGuard) with a broad variety of consumer
>electronic devices, including PCs, in order to ensure a consistent, easy and
>enjoyable experience for consumers and is not aware of any PC playback
>issues," the Macrovision spokesperson wrote. "Given the
scenario your reader
>queried, the DVDs should work fine, just like all of his other DVDs did."
>
>
>
>Potential sources of the problem, Macrovision said, included some that were
>not related directly related to the DRM. The DVD media itself could be
>flawed or marginal, or the DVD player on his computer could be impaired or
>degraded by dirt and dust in a way that would cause some DVD titles not to
>play. Another possibility would be that there could be a mismatch with
>regional restrictions built into the DVD or video standards like PAL and
>NTSC.
>
>
>
>Then there's the possibility that the PC's operating system, graphics,
>and/or DVD playing application could have a conflict with the DRM or with
>each other. "On a personal computer there is always the possibility that
>there are anomalies within the graphics driver or the DVD playing
>application," the Macrovision spokesperson wrote. "To determine in this
>specific case if this is an issue, it would be helpful to know more about
>the particular PC being used, including the graphics chip set part number
>and driver version number, the application software used to play the DVD and
>whether the problem is repeatable using other playing applications, and the
>operating system version, including what service pack updates are installed.
>However, even without this information the recommended best practice here
>would be for a consumer to check on-line for any updates to the graphics
>driver, DVD application software, and/or operating system, in that order,
>for a possible remedy."
>
>
>
>In addition, the PC's display configuration can sometimes cause conflicts
>with DRM. "Due to some design limitations, certain dual display mode
>configurations may be inhibited for playback of copy protected content," the
>Macrovision spokesperson wrote. "The most common is attempting to view copy
>protected DVD title with a PC that is configured for 'Clone' mode. In such
>cases, an error message is usually presented to the user -- unfortunately
>the text doesn't often convey the cause very clearly. If this occurs, it is
>generally a simple process to reconfigure the computer to either 'Extended
>Desktop' dual view, or even just 'single view' mode."
>
>
>
>"These are the most likely sources of your reader's problem based on
>Macrovision's experience with these issues in the past," the Macrovision
>spokesperson continued. "Generally, the best way for a consumer to get help
>on issues with playback is through the maker of the device they are using -
>in this case, the PC maker -- or the player software. While Macrovision
>works closely with various consumer electronics and PC companies to help
>ensure broad, consistent and easy playback of DVDs protected with RipGuard,
>it's difficult to make a sweeping rule for diagnosing and remedying playback
>issues given all the moving parts that aren't related to Macrovision."
>
>
>
>So let's see. The average consumer confronted with a problem like our reader
>had should buy a optical disk cleaner kit, delve into the mysteries of PAL
>and NTSC formats and DVD geographical coding, download a bunch of drivers
>and updates, (or maybe find some older drivers, according to the advice our
>reader found on the Internet), and mess around with your display
>configuration. And if that doesn't work, try calling HP or Apple or
>Microsoft and ask them why your PC can't play Battlestar Gallactica 2.5.
>Good luck with that.
>
>
>
>The Macrovision spokesperson acknowledges that these are not ideal
>solutions. "You do bring up an important point and something that needs to
>be considered, especially as devices and formats proliferate. Macrovision
>takes the issue of playability seriously and is considering ways of
>educating and expanding the resources available to consumers on this topic.
>I hope this information and guidance helps somehow. We realize it is not a
>complete solution to what you are looking for, but it is a point we are
>raising with our customers and other industry partners such as the MPAA to
>discuss ways we could work to alleviate it."
>
>
>
>Well, that's terrific, although somehow I doubt anybody's going to be very
>comfortable calling the MPAA when they have a problem playing a DVD on their
>computer. What we really need is far simpler solution, but it's not one that
>Macrovision will like. DRM can cause a lot of trouble for the customer,
>and - because it doesn't stop the pirates for even a minute - it really
>doesn't wind up benefiting anyone. The music industry is showing signs of
>finally realizing that DRM is not the answer, but it's going to be a while
>before the same light dawns with the movie studios. In the meantime, what
>can you do when the DRM doesn't work? Well, make your voice heard on the
>Gripe Line.
>

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