The Clicker: R.I.P. DVD Decrypter
It happened on Monday. Quietly and with little fanfare, a fabulous product evaporated into the great digital ether.
Choosing not to rage against the dying of the light, DVD Decrypter instead weighed its options and, like so many before
it, chose to take up residence in the digital version of the Bermuda triangle, the Cease-and-Desist Zone. It's that
magical place where both fledgling and fully-featured programs go to never be seen again.
The scene – as I imagine it – was straight from the movie Brazil: in the dead of night lawyers from "a certain
company" cut holes in the floor of the apartment above the "offender's" flat. Quickly, these men in black repelled down
ropes, tasered the unsuspecting software developer, and presented him with legally-binding contracts. In their
ever-so-subtle way, they explained that the software developer had two options a) sign over his life's work now or b)
fight the good fight, go broke, go to jail, and *then* sign over his life's work. Not surprisingly, DVD Decrypter's
author chose option a.
For those unaware, DVD Decrypter was a DVD archiving program that had garnered the respect of novices and hardcore users alike. Simple to use yet full-featured, DVD Decrypter laid the groundwork for those among us who like to do such things as create our own media servers or watch our DVDs on our Smartphones, PDAs, etc. It was a great program whose uses were far greater than the assumed nefarious purpose of distributing DVDs over the Internet.
DVD Decrypters untimely death marks a sad time for fair-use advocates.
As more and more content is delivered digitally, the debate over what exactly is fair-use will only become more
heated. Well have two options a) we can accept what the content owners tell us is right or b) we can rely on the
programs, like DVD Decrypter, that are willing to push the envelope. Its through these dedicated developers that
content owners are kept in check.
As for passing of DVD Decrypter Heres what I would suggest: Donate. If youre anything like me, youve probably
thought to yourself, Ill do that someday. However, you never quite got around to it. The authors request was so
subtle and so unassuming that it was easy to forget the countless number of times you used the program. Dont get me
wrong; donating will do nothing to change the outcome. Likewise, it will get you no support. Donating will get you no
future versions. Donating will get no bugs fixed. Absolutely nothing tangible will come from a donation.
So why donate? Thats easy. DRM is, and will always be, a grey area. There will always be the inevitable pull between
fair use and content owners rights. We, as consumers, need to encourage people to enter the grey area, and when
someone does step into the murky, uncharted waters we should reward them for doing so. All too often we expect these
people to put their livelihoods on the line. We expect them to fight big corporations. If they do fight, we
occasionally offer a paltry amount of money to help defray their legal costs. If they, on the other hand, choose to end
their contribution at simply creating a great tool/program/etc., theyre forgotten. Its easy to forget that, either
way, their income has been ripped away from them. With the guarantee that nothing more will come from a donation, most
people do the obvious; they stop donating.
If youre a DVD Decrypter user, chances are youve already had some good times with the program. Furthermore, your
good times will probably keep coming. After all, its a stable, useful program. Shouldnt the author get to enjoy the
fruits of his labor? Besides, maybe, just maybe, it might encourage another developer to enter a grey area.
Rest In Peace DVD Decrypter. Well miss you.
If you have comments or suggestions for future columns, feel free to drop an email to theclicker@theevilempire.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I think you're preaching to the choir here on engadget. Mind you, you're dead on.
You'd think 50 years of posthumus monopoly would be enough money for any copyholder.
Roopesh Sheth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Very sad. I've been using DVD Decrypter for many years and I can't imagine working without it. Of course, there are other apps out there to do similar functions, but DVD Decrypter was the best, simplest, and most versatile.
I echo, Rest in Peace DVD Decrypter. Good luck, UK Lightening.
Toxic Bomber @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Rest in Peace good buddy...you shall not go unavenged....
P Philly @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I use dvdshrink from http://www.dvdshrink.org
It rips, then if you have nero, uses that to burn the dvd. Its easy and free. I never use anything else.
StaticBeats @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Donating is a great recommendation for such a terrific program. Sorry to see it go. Echo afterdawn.com for alternate resources.
Haxor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
dvdshrink is useless without dvd decrypter
Joel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Donation done!
Keep fighting, generation next.
Will @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
awww geez, I use this program too ripp my original store baught dvd's so that I can have a copy incase some foolio scratches or spills something on it.
With how freakin fragile DVD media is, thats really harsh to get rid of such a great program, ive been using it for years, and donated a nice sum of money. This program is worth more that 90% of the junk out there.
RIP DVD Decrypter, you won't be forgotten!
Roopesh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I think you need DVD Decrypter to use DVD Shrink, also.
JB @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Truly a Great program!!!Hopefully someone steps up and carries the torch.May you rest in peace DVD Decrypter.........
Loraan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
R.e. DVDShrink needing DVDDecryptor: I don't think so. I have DVDShrink and not DVDDecryptor running on three machines. It works fine.
rei @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
dvdshrink will not decrypt newer sony-protected dvds such as ...house of flying daggers. dvd decrypter does that with aplomb.
XiBLadE @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
As for the DVD Shrink issue, I have come up with issues using it, read/write problems. Go straight to DVD Decrypt and the Backup works flawlessly.
DVD Decrypter was a great program. RIP...
wewa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
so donate, you say, and i have, twice to mr. decrypter. but now that the site is gone, how about a paypal email address for the dude, that you suggest, we contribute, as a final goodbye.
...and how do we know if the email address that we are going to send paypal money to, is indeed the correct one, as a lot of scammers will get ahold of this situation and try to 'insert' their paypal email address...
Woolly Mittens @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
There's a strong point to be made about open-sourcing this sort of programs. DVD Dyncrypter is dead now. It would not have been if the source had been floating around the intarwebs.
blo ray @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I like the program called anydvd
lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Nothing is ever gone from the internet. This will continue to be hosted "illegally" within the states, and legally within countries which arn't subject to our laws. Nothing is stopping the source code from magically turning up in the Netherlands to be developed there.
Carlton Bale @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
rei is correct, dvdshrink will not decrypt newer sony-protected dvds and dvd decrypter does. It's because dvdshrik stopped development in July 2004. Now DVD Decrypter is gone as well. The best option now may be using the DVD43 driver to decrypt and DVD Shrink to reauther / extract.
yem @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I heard this on Monday as well. I shed a tear... DVD Decrypter was a great program, and we all commend you UKLightening.
As for alternatives, I like Slysoft/Elby's AnyDVD. It's not free, but it's well worth the money. Especially since they're constantly developing it and releasing new versions. (BTW, they do offer a 30 day free trial.)
http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html
Their CloneDVD program is good as well, but I don't know if I'd pay for it when DVDShrink is free and seems to be easier to use.
Carlos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
This kind of thing gets me raging mad....
The reason the government can do s**t like this is because we consent to it. We consent to it by just sitting back, doing nothing and simply accepting their subtle control over us.
I paid thousands of dollars for my dvd collection...I HAVE EVERY RIGHT to be able to back them up, use the copies, and protect the originals from ever getting scratched.
Carlos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
This is what pulls up inside the program when it links to paypal...just made a donation:
Contact Information
Business Name:
Richard Bradbrook
Contact Email:
lightning_uk@dvddecrypter.com
__redruM @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I like how it didn't care about region codes. So I could get a euro DVD, DVDecript it and watch it.
Engadget fan... @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Great program... I donated $20 back in the day because backing up my 300 DVDs was of value to me (not to mention making a media server with a 300 gig drive and my Gateway Connected DVD). I don't understand why developers like this don't just don't take their business offshore... aren't there a ton of servers you could rent in China or somewhere to do this?
wax @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
DVD DECRYPTER IS NOT DEAD!
http://www.dvddecrypter.r8.org/
:]
Long live CSS the best css dscrypter ever!
Stephen Speicher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Please use common sense before visting the above site. While I can't verify for sure, assume ANY resurrections are in fact a scam. You don't cave only to risk everything again.
george thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
just saw the 'new' sight sunday afternoon. i, as well, smell a rat. will set back and let others test water. DVDD & LUK were the best!
george thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
just saw the 'new' sight sunday afternoon. i, as well, smell a rat. will set back and let others test water. DVDD & LUK were the best!
ALEX RESEARCHER @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
dvddecrypter IS NOT BACK!!!
Any respectable DVD/Divx site/forum will tell you the same.
the *.r8.org belongs either to a scammer or just to someone trying to keep the host the latest binary without the original authors permission, and maybe try to earn money from the ads and traffic thanks to someone else's work.
A week before he had a link for Donations in his site. Now he removed it
The guy is asking for help to reverse engineer the binary, because he has not the source!!!
thats a JOKE!!!! (at best).
Even if he manages to build a somehow modified binary, I would not trust him of not putting some trojan/home phone module in it.
Bj?Lundahl @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I think we have here a software that replaces DVD Decrypter and that is DVDFab Decrypter. It is a freeware! You can download it at: www.afterdawn.com It seems to me to be a very good software!! Best regards Bj?Lundahl, G?org, Sweden
CvH _ Netherlands @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
This program is de best encrypter, I have done my second donantion because its perfect. Please stay.
gman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
RE: DVD Shrink: You need 3 Apps
a. DVD Decrypter
b. DVD Shrink
c. Nero (for Burning)
Worked for me everytime 98.9 %
Paulyp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
RIP, a wonderful piece of s/ware. Perhaps dvd cartels should be forced to provide free second copies to people, if they are not prepared to allow us to back up movies we own? Just a thought...
U_buddy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Just read the post. What a shame. Used both decrypter and shrink for more than a year now...love both programmes. Bought a commercial package but it just did not work as promised -- wasted $50.
I sent a donation some time ago (before the demise of decrypter) as I was using the programme frequently and felt that it was worth the amount I sent.
Hope someone is around to carry the torch. We need such software for personal use -- never for commercial gain.
Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
I wonder how long before google is forced to filter searches. Afterall, Google's links allowed me to find DVD Decryptor which in turn allowed me to backup DVD's. As a US registered company, Google is violating the Digital Millenium Act by aiding users to circumvent encryption. It is a crime to aid in circumventing encryption... Next they shut down Microsoft. Afterall, there operating system allowed me to run DVD Decryptor, thus aiding me in circumventing digitial encryption. Fortunately, the courts ruled you can circumvent encryption, you just can not aid others. So I have not broken any US laws backing up my disks.
Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
If you find something where DVDDecryptor doesn't work, then try DVD43 and Nero.
Bill
Super DVD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
http://www.freedvddecrypter.tk
What is going on, you thought the DVD Decrypter website was gone?
Yes, the "official" DVD Decrypter website is gone and will never come back, but for now I Super DVD (NOT Lightning UK!) have resurrected (brought back from the dead) the original DVD Decrypter website in memory of the DVD Decrypter program made by Lightning UK!. My purpose is to carry on the legacy of DVD Decrypter and keep it alive. The download links on the download page do work so yes you can download DVD Decrypter version 3.5.4.0 right here on the download page! If you would like to contact me, You can send me an E-mail at lightninguk.dvddecrypter@gmail.com Please know that I am NOT Lightning UK!, I do not work for Lightning UK!, I just want to bring back something that once was. The copyright date at the bottom of the website is there because Lightning UK! is the designer of the content of the website!
Is this a SCAM?, Will you take my money?
This site is NOT A SCAM site, this site is up ONLY for the honor of DVD Decrypter. Therefore I WILL NOT ASK YOU FOR DONATIONS, MONEY, OR ANYTHING REGARDING MONEY!!
The ONLY thing I am asking for right now is, if you can offer me some hosting space to host this website it would be very helpful, See above for more Details!! The website is http://www.freedvddecrypter.tk
Barry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
Certain places (coughcoughafterdawn.comcough) are hosting it.
This decision (like the DMCA itself) is like outlawing crowbars in the belief that it will stop burglary.
d|g|ta| @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM
RIP DVD Decryptor. Thats another one down. Shame really
rob @ Dec 29th 2005 7:26PM
I donated ten dollars today
its worth more...
rob @ Dec 29th 2005 7:37PM
lets see