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WRS
Motion Picture and Video Lab is a licensed
duplicator for Macrovision.
The
Macrovision videocassette anticopy process is the most effective and
widely used technology for preventing "back-to-back"
copying of videos using two VCRs. The technology is applied to over
550 million videocassettes annually and is used by every MPAA movie
studio on some or all of their videocassette releases. Over 220
commercial duplication facilities around the world are equipped to
supply Macrovision videocassette copy protection to rights owners. In
the U.S., over 1,500 corporate, educational, and special interest
rights owners apply the copy protection process to their packaged media.
Macrovision
copy protection is available through WRS.
How It Works
The technology
consists of a carefully timed sequence of electronic pulses that are
added to the video signal during duplication. These pulses are
transparent on original cassette playback, but cause copies made on
most consumer VCRs to be degraded to the extent they no longer have
much entertainment value.
Specifically,
when attempting to make a copy of a copy protected cassette, the
Macrovision technology will confuse the recording VCR's automatic
gain control (AGC) system. Illicit copies made on over 85% of
consumer VCRs exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:
dim and/or noisy pictures, loss of color, intermittent or permanent
loss of video, picture tearing, etc.
The Copying Problem
Unauthorized
copying is a major problem confronting video rights owners worldwide.
A recent study found U.S. consumers admitted to having one
unauthorized copy of a prerecorded videocassette for every six
originals. The study found that over 30% of VCR households admit to
having unauthorized copies, and that the total annual revenue loss
due to copying is estimated at $370,000,000 annually. The study also
found that the copying problem is not restricted to Hollywood
blockbusters. Millions of households were found to have illicit
copies of music, documentary, children's, sports, exercise,
instructional, religious, and other non-theatrical programs.
Industry Support
In the U.S.,
usage of copy protection enjoys widespread industry support. The key
association representing video retailers, the Video Software Dealers
Association, has endorsed rights owner usage of copy protection on
videocassettes, as well as other media. The National Association of
Video Distributors has recommended copy protection be utilized on all
cassettes. And a survey of the nation's top video specialty store
chains found that 93 of the top 100 chains in the U.S. wanted all
their cassettes copy protected, and the majority reported they would
be inclined to increase their purchases of titles they knew were copy protected. |
