Breaking DVD Encryption

Re “If You Can’t Protect What’s Yours, You Own Nothing,” by Jack Valenti, Commentary, Jan. 30: Because digital video disc drivers only exist for Windows and the Macintosh, someone reverse-engineered the encryption to allow people to play DVDs under Linux. If you can’t play what’s yours, what good is it? It is OK to archive media for personal use. I can copy my CD to a tape and play it in my car, or back up the software that I purchase.

Valenti fails to mention that a blank DVD costs more than the movie and that each movie is prohibitively large--roughly 5 gigabytes. Try to download that! Nor does he mention that pirated DVDs were being distributed before the code was cracked.

The encryption does limit where movies can be played. Since each code is licensed by region, DVDs purchased in the U.S. will only work in U.S. players, permitting discriminatory pricing. A secret encryption code gives one group the power to determine which manufacturers can develop players. Now that the code is cracked, manufacturers will not have to pay exorbitant licensing fees, and we will have cheaper players. We can develop drivers for other operating systems. And the Motion Picture Assn. of America can stop making war on its customers.

JOHN STAMP

Claremont

* With all the effort that the motion picture industry is using to harass people who are simply trying to play DVD movies under Linux, the MPAA hasn’t introduced one bootleg movie into evidence. If this case is about illegal copying, show us one illegal copy made with Linux. The courts should concentrate on real DVD bootleggers and throw out MPAA’s bogus case against law-abiding Linux users.

DON MARTI, Publicity Director

Silicon Valley Linux

Users Group, Mountain View