Following the latest attempts to hack the advanced access content system (AACS) copy-protection schemes of HD DVD and Blu-Ray, Slysoft released the first official software that allows replication of HD DVD movies.
Dubbed AnyDVD HD, the software comes with same functionality as the company's AnyDVD software for DVDs, but with additional features for full HD-DVD (High Definition DVD) support, including decryption of HD-DVD movie discs.
According to Slysoft, AnyDVD HD allows users to watch movies over a digital display connection, without HDCP compliant graphics card and HDCP compliant display. In addition, is allows playback discs on PC with PowerDVD Ultra, which otherwise do not run (titles released by Studio Canal, The Weinstein Company, Kinowelt, Optimum Releasing).
Another feature of AnyDVD HD is "magic file replacement ". This allows remastering of any commercial movie disc using simple XML scripts. These scripts will "magically" replace the files on the physical disc. Users are able to customize discs as they like without even making a copy to harddisk.
Other features carried over from AnyDVD include the removal of CSS encryption and region codes from DVD movies, allowing for a user?s free reign over the optical format for backup purposes. AnyDVD is capable of removing unwanted movie features, including subtitles and prohibition messages such as copyright and FBI warnings.
Slysoft also said that it plans to support decrypting of Blu-Ray movies as well. A beta version of the Blu-Ray utility is planned for availability this quarter, according to the company.
AnyDVD HD is priced at $79 or as an upgrade from AnyDVD for $30.
Based in Antigua in West Indies, Slysoft is not affected by the copyright laws of the U.S. and European countries. The release of AnyDVD HD follows the latest HD DVD cracks that appeared lately in various forums. AACS LA, the authority behind the AACS content protection technology used in both HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs, responded to these reports of attacks of the AACS technology with the following statement:
"Regarding the reported attacks on 2/13/2007, AACS has confirmed that an additional key (called a "processing key") has been published on public websites without authorization. This is a variation of the previously reported attack (a compromise of a specific implementation) on one or more players sold by AACS licensees. Although a different key was extracted, this represents no adverse impact on the ability of the AACS ecosystem to address the attack. All technical and legal measures applicable to the previously reported attack will be applicable against this attack as well."