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DVD Software (in Linux and Windows)

A friend wrote to me:

              "I guess I still don't understand why it would be ok to play a dvd on wmp [Windows Media Player]* or apple's quicktime player**, but not mplayer. If you bought the dvd in the first place, I don't understand why someone would be so picky as to require you to play it only with a certain type of software."

              Later he wrote:  "Ok, I read more on the subject, and I now realize that the software firms are supposed to be purchasing a license to allow them to decode dvds. Mplayer instead, uses an algorithim that breaks the code [libdvdcss] rather than paying the money to buy the license. The creators of Mplayer would probably have to charge money for the software and then add product keys to keep the software from being stolen. It's not good for something that wants to be open source, so they continue to do it illegally rather than change."

*  Input from another friend:  Last I knew, Windoze Media Player doesn't play DVD's unless a codec is installed, and it has to be purchased.  I think the exception to that rule is the Media Center Edition version of Windows XP.  Now, I really don't have an answer for what is included with Vista & 7.  I do think that Mac OS has DVD playing capability default.  It might play through QuikTime on Apples [Macs], but Apple has it's own DVD player, and it works pretty well. 

 * * Though Quicktime does not generally play DVD's:  #1 & #2

 

Most Linux DVD player software (and some Windows ones) depends on libdvdcss:

  • VLC
  • Ogle
  • Xine-based players like Kaffeine & xfmedia
  • MPlayer

 


"There are several actively developed ones [DVD players], including Ogle, MPlayer, and Xine. Each of them requires the use of libdvdcss, a library that decrypts CSS-encoded DVDs. Although it’s never been tested in court, libdvdcss is probably an illegal “circumvention device” under the DMCA, which is why it’s hosted on a server outside the United States."      (from www.techliberation.com/archives/038757.php)

 

 

 

The website for VLC, the group that hosts libdvdcss, gives this warning:

"If you are unsure about the legality of using and distributing this library in your country, please consult your lawyer."

 

From Wikipedia

"libdvdcss is not to be confused with DeCSS. While DeCSS uses a cracked DVD player key to perform authentication, libdvdcss uses a generated list of possible player keys. If none of them work (for instance, when the DVD drive enforces region coding) a brute force algorithm is tried so the region code of a DVD is ignored. ...  DeCSS is a computer program capable of decrypting content on a commercially produced DVD video disc."

"Many Linux distributions do not contain libdvdcss (for example Debian, SUSE Linux, and Ubuntu) due to fears of running afoul of DMCA-style laws."

"the libdvdcss library ... was created by reverse engineering. The legal status of libdvdcss is questionable in several nations; in the United States, for example, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act arguably prohibits reverse-engineering of CSS. Virtually all commercial DVDs are encrypted with CSS."

 

 

Legally-Kosher Options for Linux DVD Software

  • TurboLinux (more info) and Linspire have put out commercially-licensed DVD players with their Linux OS distrubutions.
  • Also, LinDVD is a legal DVD player program for Linux (more info, but outdated).   Dell currently preinstalls it on the Ubuntu computers they sell.

 

 

Some related links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libdvdcss 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_Scramble_System

 

 

"Media Player Classic" (on the popular Free-Codecs.com, it is available as a direct download or part of their K-Lite Pack download) is free/opensource and does play DVD's.  I don't know what codec it uses but also don't know how it could be legal.  This is all I've found from other websites:

  • "the K-lite codec pack...which allows MPC to play dvd's, as well as just about any other media type out there. None of these are free, if you're actually interested in legally purchasing them."
  • "K-Lite includes, shall we say, "non-Free" codecs (InterVideo, Cyberlink, MainConcept, Elecard off the top of my head). It would not be a stretch to say it includes pirated/cracked/hacked codecs."
  • Gizmo's site says:  "K-Lite codec pack - Contains the DivX codec, so it is therefore questionable."

 

In Gentoo Linux, with "USE flags" you can disable DVD support (no installing "libdvdcss") when installing your media player, and thus stay on the legal side. 

See similar article on MP3 Software.

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