Encryption technology is advancing with the times, trying to keep one step ahead of the latest format to hit the market.
In
the simplest of terms, encryption is "technology that encodes computer
files and communications much like a combination lock secures a filing
cabinet," according to a description given by the Business Software
Alliance (BSA). On a much grander scale, encryption helps protect the
media manufacturing industry from pirates - consumers, hackers and
professionals alike - through water-marketing, program installation and
hyperlinks, to name just a few. This encoding can occur at various
manufacturing stages from authoring to replication to playback. . The
prime issues facing those in the field of encryption include
digital-to-analog copying, the Internet and digital-to-digital copying.
Digital-To-Analog Since there are no specific industry-wide
endorsements on which type of encryption technology is best,
replicators and authoring houses are basically on their own in
determining which solution will best fit their needs.
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Another
offering is CD-Cops, a Danish technology which uses a glass-master
fingerprinting technique which imprints the master and every disc made
from it with an ID and an access code. Replicators license the
technology, which is implemented by the company for a one-time fee of
$1950 plus a one-percepercent fee based on the retail price of the
projected volume per title. In his experience in dealing with
replicators who must address this issue and bear the costs, CD-Cops
president Hans K. Pedersen says pragmatism is the operant response. One
of the first things you learn in life is that fairness is not ruling
the world, says Pedersen. I think our customers have a good approach to
judging pros and cons [regarding] protection, though. [Our
prices]...should be compared to how much [a replicator's] legal sales
increase with a good protection strategy (For more of Pedersen's
thoughts on copy protection, see next month's article: Disc Piracy).
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