DVD CopyrightLike recent decisions concerning the unauthorized transmission of music over the Internet, the battle over the distribution of code-breaking programs used to copy digital versatile disks, or DVD's, has been closely watched by the entertainment industry and Internet groups. However, there are numerous programs available online to crack the encryption code and burn the DVD. Even if the burned DVD is not sold or shown for profit, and used only as a backup to the original, the fact that the encryption code was broken has violated the DVD copyright. Motion picture companies argue that they have invested tremendous amounts of money on the assurance, through long-recognized copyright laws, that they would have the exclusive right to sell their movies to the public. Their opponents argued that new federal laws designed to protect those copyrights were overly restrictive, saying they unreasonably blocked the legitimate use of digital movies and illegally infringed on their right to free speech under the Constitution. | |
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