Paramount licenses BD + copy protection

Joins Fox in using technology on Blu-ray discs

By Paul Sweeting -- Video Business, 4/29/2009

APRIL 29 | Paramount Home Entertainment on Wednesday became the second major studio to license Macrovision’s BD + copy-protection technology for Blu-ray Disc, following the lead of 20th Century Fox, which pushed to include the added layer of protection in the Blu-ray spec.

The BD + license was included in a suite of copy-protection technologies Paramount licensed from Macrovision. The deal also includes licenses to use ACP and RipGuard.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Macrovision to preserve Paramount Home Entertainment’s high-quality products,” Paramount worldwide president for Paramount Home Entertainment Kelley Avery said in a statement. “Macrovision’s technologies cover a variety of distribution channels, providing necessary safeguards, which benefit both the studio and the consumer.”

The companies did not disclose whether Paramount intends to use BD + on all its Blu-ray releases or only on selected titles.

Macrovision acquired the rights to BD + last year when it acquired the assets of Cryptography Research Inc., the company that developed the Self Protecting Digital Content technology on which BD + is based.

The system allows a studio to add a title-specific layer of copy protection to Blu-ray discs on top of the Advanced Access Content System used on all BD releases.

Its purpose is to maintain a level of protection even if AACS is hacked.

The incorporation of BD + into the Blu-ray spec proved pivotal in the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD by cementing Fox’s commitment to the Blu-ray camp.

“We are delighted that Paramount has chosen to continue its Macrovision relationship and that Macrovision can aid them in realizing full-market value for their content,” Macrovision president/CEO Fred Amoroso said. “With our solutions, we believe Paramount will be able to confidently explore a broad set of distribution channels while ensuring a consistent product to its customers.”