The plan for legit Blu-ray copies explained at Engadget HD

For those with a disc rack full of Blu-ray packages and who'd like to shove all those optical discs to the attic for a streamlined media server solution -- without resorting to other routes like downloading or cracking open AACS -- Managed Copy is finally on the way, thanks to the just finalized AACS specification, to offer an authorized option for making a copy of your Blu-ray disc. We had a nice long talk with gatekeepers AACS-LA about what to expect when compatible Blu-ray hardware arrives in 2010 and Managed Copy-enabled discs begin shipping later this year; for more details like how many copies can be made, how the DRM works and how much this might cost head over to Engadget HD and see what it all means, and hopefully when we can put away our discs for the last time in favor of a Blu-ray Jukebox.

[darkmax Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:09PM]

very nice room arrangement.

[CheesusCrust Posted Jun 20th 2009 2:09AM]

Agreed.

[Whiternoise Posted Jun 20th 2009 10:52AM]

For those interested, the image name implies that its a Kaleidescape system - note the 3U server in there and the tv monitor on the chair. Looks like a nifty bit of kit.

http://www.kaleidescape.com

[monkey with glasses Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:13PM]

About time.

[Torch Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:35PM]

LOL, people who backup will NEVER use this "managed" bullshit. Backups should be unprotected MKVs and nothing else.

[AMiSHPiRACY Posted Jun 19th 2009 11:13PM]

I completely disagree, Kurian! Backups should be a wide-range of formats!

[Temple Posted Jun 19th 2009 11:57PM]

In many ways, Blu-ray has already allowed 'managed copies' via having an MP4 version on their disks. I watch my Dark Knight on my iPhone and PC all the time which was originally copied from my Blu-ray disk; totally legal, and from Warner Bros.

[MandarinMan Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:15PM]

That is one pimp theatre setup....

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:23PM]

FACK YOU DRM!

FACK YOU RIAA!

FACK YOU MONSTER CABLES!

[cybhunter Posted Jun 20th 2009 2:48PM]

Don't forget MPAA

[murc Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:26PM]

ahhh, engadget still uses discs....that cute.

[Aguiluz Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:11PM]

I still use discs... So am I cute?

[Temple Posted Jun 20th 2009 12:02AM]

What do you use? Digital downloads? You pay for copies that are non-transferable, you can't play on any other players other then your original player, you are locked in and are full of DRM.

You have to be a fool, because I least with Blu-ray/DVD I can play on any machine, let my friend borrow the film, and sell it on eBay when I'm sick of the movie. You can't do that with digital distribution. Nowadays, many movies come with digital copies which you can even transfer to your PC.

Quite frankly, digital distribution is for suckers. Unless you just rent the movies, there is absolutely no in paying for a digital copy.

[gamechld Posted Jun 20th 2009 5:13AM]

@Temple

No, I think what he was getting at is PAYING for all that crap is for suckers. Go ahead and PAY for your DVD's and Bluray Discs! I'd rather be watching anything I want for free...

All in the cozy confines of my prison cell!

[Altairantares Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:35PM]

And the world continues to laugh at the follys of the DRM obsessed companies...

[LazarusLong Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:36PM]

Still don't trust anything the studios will do...it all must sound nice and perfect right now, but they'll figure out a way to screw it up.

[DStarsong Posted Jun 19th 2009 9:48PM]

So, is their "solution" going to be "Just set up a camcorder in front of your TV" again...?

[Hexydes Posted Jun 20th 2009 10:21AM]

Very lol.

[HeavyToka Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:03PM]

They will let us make one copy, then sue us 3 months later for piracy lol

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:06PM]

Can't wait

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:33PM]

Hold on... are there any tech-savvy people out there who have actually been *waiting* for all of this to get sorted out so they can back up their movies? Please.

[Barky Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:34PM]

I don't think you guys read the article. They actually want to charge for each copy made. I'll bet SlotMusic is more successful than this.

[nicklar Posted Jun 20th 2009 7:58AM]

Soooooo, we get to:

a.) buy new unspecified cost hardware, even if we've already bought a %^&%^ expensive BR burner,
b.) buy new specially designed and more expensive Managed Copy BR blanks
c.) pay an additional fee to copy the media we already own, using a & b
d.) wait to do a,b, & c, since this stuff has event been designed manufactured

Sounds like a win-win.

Seriously, who the F thinks up this sh1t? (and gets paid to think it up) It almost makes me want to advocate piracy.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 11:20PM]

Finally. I laughed hard enough to unclog my nose. Damn pine pollen allergies.

[DStarsong Posted Jun 20th 2009 1:17AM]

Seriouslly, I want to know, arent there ALREADY copies of blu-ray movies out there? I SWEAR ive seen them on torrent sites, could be wrong though...

[thephatness Posted Jun 20th 2009 1:09AM]

Looks like the bridge of the Enterprise got a makeover by Bob Vila.

[PowerHouse Posted Jun 20th 2009 1:22AM]

This is kinda dumb. It's the same concept like when iTunes charges an additional .99 cents to make a ringtone of music you've already purchased.

FAIL.

[gadgeek Posted Jun 20th 2009 7:51AM]

i wonder which drawer the socks go in...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 20th 2009 4:03PM]

Cool, that sounds wonderful.......but.....seems to me like even a 1TB hard drive isn't good enough...

[letstakeawalk Posted Jun 20th 2009 5:41PM]

Does anyone else hear an early adopter whinging because they didn't wait for a product to be fully developed before buying in? I swear, it sounds just like sour grapes...

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 20th 2009 10:02PM]

The article reads like some AACS-LA Marketer's dream:
"If you haven't noticed so far, we're really excited about this. How could we not be after living under the heavy handed reign of CSS for so many years. We still can't believe we're actually going to have more ways to enjoy our favorite movies. We have to say we would've never imagined that Hollywood would have the vision required to develop AACS with all of this in mind. It is just crazy that AACS includes this and it isn't some sort of add-on hack."
-----------
Heavy-handed reign of CSS?
Sure, if you somehow are oblivious to the fact it was hacked to death and has various easy programs used to rip it effortlessly and/or download what you want already - for free if you are so inclined.

Vision? AACS-Managed Copy is the realisation they have to play with the popularity of internet and portable devices (and DVD). Managed Copy leaves so many questions unanswered...not to mention the COST, and it still leaves it all to the discretion of the content provider.

Talk about handing out (rationed) crumbs and calling it a meal, and getting excited about the possibility of those crumbs being filling and good value.

[freediverdude Posted Jun 21st 2009 1:18AM]

From what I understand about this "managed copy", the managed-copy blu-ray player/burner actually has to have an internet connection, and must call into servers managed by the studios, before it will allow a copy. This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a long time. I feel fairly confident in saying this won't be adopted.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 21st 2009 2:18AM]

All cool but in the end the option NEEDS TO BE ENABLED. So a jackass decides he doesn't want his movie copied to disk will screw everything up.

[Wwhat Posted Jun 21st 2009 4:14PM]

There's just a small group of confused people who think supporting the music/mocie companies is a 'good' thing, and they must have their outlets too I guess,
'they are such nice people, they even allow me to play the things I bought legally more than once, isn't that christian of them? So lovely, I hope they accept my invitation to see my church next sunday and then afterwards we go hunting with mister cheney, he's also so nice and righteous and has a lovely hat'