Blu-ray copying to debut in 2010

 

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Posted on 15 Jun 2009 at 12:56

Blu-ray owners will soon be able to make one authorised copy of any disc they buy, with the implementation of Managed Copy.

Managed Copy has been a long-promised feature of Blu-ray, but it was only last week that agreement was reached on the final version of Advanced Access Content System (AACS) which includes a clause permitting one full-resolution backup copy of each Blu-ray disc.

Most movie studios will be obliged to allow users to make copies, unless they don’t have all the necessary rights, but will be allowed to charge for the privilege. Only some small distributors will be allowed to refuse copying permission.

Copies can be made on various storage media and copied to some portable players, but not iPhones or iPods—at least not legally. Copy permissions will be controlled by centralised authorisation servers, run either by the AACS-LA or individual studios.

Current Blu-ray players do not support Managed Copy so users keen to make backups will probably have to wait until new players are available and these aren’t expected until the first quarter of 2010, at the earliest.

Sony PS3 owners may not have to wait that long. Sony has said that it will be able to add Managed Copy via a firmware update, once the authorisation servers are up-and-running.

Andy Parsons, US chairman of the BDA Promotions Committee, said that he doesn’t think that will be the case with standalone players.

“It doesn’t seem likely as a firmware upgrade because the specs weren’t done,” he said. “Hardware guys don’t like building stuff that might not be done.”

Michael Ayers, chair of the AACS-LA, said that support for Apple devices was not included because Apple hadn’t applied for it. The company has shown no enthusiasm for Blu-ray, preferring instead to push movie downloads through its iTunes Store. Ayers said that Apple can apply for support at any time.

Author: Simon Aughton