The DVD Fourm announced on Thursday the results of the 36th Steering Committee Meeting, which include the decision to support the Content Scramble System (CSS) content protection for content stored on DVD-R media.

The DVD Forum approved the "CSS Managed Recording", a function that allows users to write CSS-protected downloaded content a DVD-R disc. The DVD Forum is expected to add the new function to the DVD-R specification book.

Currently, Sonic's Roxio Venue application supports the "CSS Managed Recording" function, allowing consumers select, manage, view, and burn entertainment purchased online onto recordable DVDs that play on standard DVD players as well as PCs. Roxio Venue is built on Sonic's AuthorScript DVD on Demand engine, a technology that supports the managed recording of entertainment using the CSS ? the copy protection found on commercially released DVDs.

Compatibility of the new CSS DVD-R SL discs with the current DVD players has been also taken under consideration, according to the DVD Forum. A special logo will be also be prepared for the devices that will be capable of playing the CSS DVD-R discs.

Other decisions of the 36th Steering Committee Meeting include the approval of the "Optional Specifications for DVD-Video Specifications Version 1.1: DVD Downloadable Video, Revision 1.0". In addition, the standards related to Downloadable Video for DVD-R for General and DVD-R Dual Layer have been approved.

The 10x and 12x DVD-R DL recording standards were also approved (optional specifications Revision 4.0, 5.0, respectively).

The inclusion of a new logo for DVD Professional Audio Recording (DVD-PAR) products has been decided.

The progress in the specifiactions related to the HD DVD format include the approval of the DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc (HD DVD-RW) File System Specifications, Version 0.9, the DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc for Dual Layer (HD DVD-RW for DL) File System Specifications, Version 1.9. Moreover, the DVD Forum approved the recording/playback function of HD DVD-Video/VR content on existing red-laser DVD recordable media.