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2001/05/01: DeCSS case back in court on appeal. 2001/02/15: LiViD releases Open Media System DVD Player. 2001/01/18: California court stays proceedings against Matt Pavlovich. 2000/08/17: New York court enjoins 2600 Magazine from publishing or linking to DeCSS; Emmanuel Goldstein Responds.

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The DVD forum is a collection of hardware manufacturers and representatives from the movie studios. They came up with the encryption process, known as CSS. Several months ago some computer programmers released the source code, or the recipe to the program, that enabled other software engineers to decrypt CSS. This code is known as 'DeCSS' is the center of several law suits filed on behalf of the DVD-CCA and the MPAA.

Currently, the member companies of the DVD-CCA and the MPAA are trying to dispell the arguements of the defense.

Here is a copy of a memo sent out by the CEO of Disney. It is clear that even the key members of the companies filing complaints do not understand several of the key issues.

In order to counter their offensive, OpenDVD is encouraging people to put the small banner on web sites, and informing other people about the pending legal battles.

The following table outlines the stance of the social issues, and draws a clearer line between what the OpenDVD group supports, and what the MPAA and Consumer Electronics Industry supports.

	MPAA/Consumer Electronics Ind.	OpenDVD.org
Extend DVD technologout throughout the Industry
Utilize DVD's high volume storage capabilities for video
Protect the rights of the copyright holders
Encourage new video content
Allow consumers to create DVD movie content
Protect the "fair use" rights of the consumers
Allow consumers to enhance the capabilities of DVD

Myths the MPAA is spreading

1. Myth: The CSS process is highly secure.
   Fact:
   • CSS has already been broken and source code is part of public domain. US export restrictions of 40 bit encryption prevented them from being able to use a high grade of encryption.
   • DVDs do not even use the full key "range".
   • The full key set can be found in less than 5 minutes on a PC.
2. Myth: DVDs cannot be copied unless CSS is utilized.
   Fact:
   • Only PC DVD drives require the 'authentication' part of the CSS process. Using home readers, the data can be extracted and bit by bit copies performed.
   • Additionally, professional offshore pirates use the same "presses" that are used by DVD manufacturers to mass produce DVD titles. Using a professional press, the DVD is copied like a photograph, and there is no need to bypass the CSS scheme.
3. Myth: The CSS scheme is only a copy protection scheme
   Fact:
   • It prevents otherwise "fair use":
     ``Fair use'' is the term to describe using video clips in presentations or taking a screen shot from the video and using it elsewhere. Since you purchase the media, what is there to say you are only allowed to sit down and watch it through?
   • By controlling who has the ability to play DVD movie content, they can control the insertion of advertisments, and prevent consumers from skipping through the ads.
4. Myth: It is affordable to develop a software or hardware application for DVD.
   Fact:
   • The licensing fees of the CSS scheme approach $1 Million USD.
   • Small start ups have been denied the ability to license the scheme.
5. Myth: The open source DVD player was designed with the intent to copy DVDs.

Fact:
• The code that is available in no way provides mechanisms for recording DVD movies.
• DVD recorders are very expensive and are not 100% compatible with all players.
• Blank DVD disks still cost more than a pre-recorded DVD movie.

For a more complete technical descritption of the CSS scheme, read this declaration filed by Matthew R. Pavlovich for the DMCA case in New York.

The OpenDVD.org Group