The final specifications of the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) content protection system used on Blu-ray technology may not include the highly touted Managed Copy function, according to reports.

Managed Copy has been the a basic feature of the final AACS specifications. The interim versions of the AACS specifications allowed first-generation AACS-protected discs to be Managed Copy-ready, although the feature would be permitted under the Final License only, due for release this summer.

Managed Copy would enable movement of high-definition content onto home network and portable devices. This means that users could legally copy Blu-ray discs, at least for their home media server and backup purposes.

But the implementation of Managed Copy has not yet been widely accepted by the majority of the Hollywood studios, obviously believing that copying a movie could technically qualify as low-volume piracy.

Consumer Electronics Daily reported April 22 that the technology, which would allow Blu-ray Disc owners to will not be included in finalized AACS specifications. AACS Licensing Administrator officials declined to return any comments to CDRInfo's inquiries.

Managed Copy technologies submitted include CPRM, VCPS, WMDRM, MagicGate, as well as AACS for Recordable Media.

Despite the complexity of the technology, the AACS LA has been pushing Hollywood Studios to support the Managed Copy function in the Blu-Ray releases. Managed copy is also supported by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

And while the AACS final licensing agreement is under negotiation between the AACS LA and film makers, some studios have already chosen to afford customers who purchase DVD and Blu-ray movies with an additionalDigital Copy of the movie. A digital copy of Hitman was included with the Blu-ray Disc from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, and Lionsgate will include an iTunes digital copy on the May 27 "Rambo" Blu-ray, followed by another one for "The Eye" later this summer.

The new iTunes Digital Copy provides a way to transfer a DVD purchase to a user's iTunes library. Once a customer buys the DVD, he or she inserts it into their computer, enters a unique code into iTunes, and the movie is automatically copied to their iTunes library. Customers own the iTunes Digital Copy of the movie and it has all of the viewing options as other iTunes Store video content, including the ability to be viewed on a computer, iPod with video, iPhone and widescreen television with Apple TV. Each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library. An iTunes account is required.