AnyDVD

AnyDVD
Developer(s) RedFox
Initial release 3 July 2003 (2003-07-03)[1]
Stable release 7.6.9.5 (March 27, 2016 (2016-03-27)) [±][2]
Operating system Windows 2000 or later
Type DVD ripper
License Shareware
Website www.redfox.bz

AnyDVD is a device driver for Microsoft Windows which allows decryption of DVDs on the fly, as well as targeted removal of copy preventions and user operation prohibitions (UOPs). With an upgrade, it will also do the same for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The AnyDVD program runs in the background, making discs unrestricted and region-free. In addition to removing digital restrictions, AnyDVD will also defeat Macrovision analog copy prevention. Analog prevention distorts the video signal to prevent high quality copying from the output. AnyDVD is also able to remove copy-prevention from audio CDs.

The ripper module is based on code from Elby's CloneDVD. Old versions used a ripper based on FixVTS, but FixVTS was shut down by legal threats from Sony in June 2007.[3] As of version 6.1.4.3, AnyDVD has a revised ripper that removes Sony ARccOS Protection, Macrovision RipGuard, and other structural preventions and repairs both intentional and unintentional mastering errors. It ensures strict compliance with third-party tools, particularly DVD Shrink and Nero Recode.

Advanced technical characteristics

On February 17, 2007, SlySoft released AnyDVD HD. AnyDVD and AnyDVD HD are in fact the same piece of software, but the license key determines whether the HD aspects of the software are available to the user. When the HD part of the software is enabled it permits access to HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, including decryption of AACS encrypted discs. In the case of Blu-ray Discs, it also supports region code removal (HD DVD has no region code).

Besides dealing with DVD copying issues, AnyDVD can also work in the background to automatically detect and remove additional data sessions contained on Audio CDs which contain copy-prevention measures. This allows audio tracks to be directly accessed on the system for direct playback and for access by CD extraction software. Intentional tracking errors in the audio may also be discovered, for example, those errors involved with key2AudioXS, which may cause major skipping distortions in the ripped audio tracks. By bypassing these methods AnyDVD can provide clean, distortion-free playback and ripping.

On March 19, 2008, SlySoft released version 6.4.0.0 of AnyDVD HD, which removes BD+ as well.[4] Some Blu-ray Disc software players have removed the ability of movie playback from folders on a hard drive. AnyDVD HD has since version 6.4.6.2, August 22, 2008, included the ability to rip movies to an ISO format.

Legal issues

Advertising, sale, and lending of AnyDVD is outlawed in Germany (but possession is not), as it removes copy prevention from DVDs. The Heise news portal was sued by the record industry for linking to SlySoft's website in a news report. The publisher subsequently counter sued with claims of violation of their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press and has, as of April 2007, lost two appeal proceedings. The German Federal Constitutional Court decided not to rule on Heise's appeal for the time being because remedies in the ordinary courts had not been exhausted.[5] In October 2010, the Federal Court of Justice of Germany decided in favor of Heise. This verdict is now legally binding.[6] The legal status of AnyDVD in other countries is unclear.

At some point in February 2016, SlySoft shut down, with its home page replaced by a message citing "recent regulatory requirements".[7] However, the company's support forum remained online, with the name SlySoft replaced with "RedFox". SlySoft developers also revealed that none of the company's staff were actually based in Antigua (where SlySoft claimed to have been based), that the company was not involved in legal settlements from AACS LA, and that key staff members still had access to SlySoft's technical infrastructure—including build systems and licensing servers—feasibly allowing development of AnyDVD to continue.[8] This was followed by the release of version 7.6.9.1, which was the first released under the Belize/Latvia-based banner of RedFox.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AnyDVD History". SlySoft. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "AnyDVD History". RedFox.
  3. ↑ "Sony's ARccOS group takes down RipIt4Me and FixVTS". AfterDawn. 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  4. ↑ "AnyDVD (HD) 6.4.0.0". SlySoft.
  5. ↑ "Ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court (in German)". Bverfg.de. 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  6. ↑ "Article on heise news portal about the final appeal (German)". Heise.de. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
  7. ↑ "DRM defeaters defeated? SlySoft ceases operations". Ars Technica. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "AnyDVD Admins & Developers Mull Comeback". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "AnyDVD is Back But Don’t Call Us Pirates, Developer Says". TorrentFreak. Retrieved 3 March 2016.

External links

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