Court stops DVD-copying program

The film industry is battling against piracy

A US court has given software company, 321 Studios, a week to stop selling a program that lets people copy DVDs.

The ruling is a boost for the US film industry body, the Motion Picture Association of America, which argued such software made piracy easier.

321 Studios said it would appeal against the decision in support of people's right to make copies of DVDs for their own legitimate use.

The case tested the scope of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Back-ups

The 1998 DMCA prohibits the distribution of software or devices intended to circumvent copyright protections.

"Companies have a responsibility to develop products that operate within the letter of the law and that do not expose their customers to illegal activities," said Jack Valenti, CEO of the MPAA.

The ruling has sent "a clear message that it is essential for corporations to protect copyrighted works while facilitating the enjoyment of entertainment offerings through new digital technologies," he added.

For his part, Robert Moore, co-founder of 321 Studios, said he was "disappointed but prepared" for the court's decision.

Robert Moore said users have the right to make back-ups

321's program, DVD X Copy, worked by getting around copy protection codes on DVDs. The company said it gave owners of DVD protection because it allowed them to make back-ups of discs in case originals were destroyed.

But the MPAA argued software that allowed the copying of DVDs only added to the huge film piracy problems it said it faced.

It has claimed the film industry loses $3 billion (£1.6 billion) a year from the copying and reselling of video tapes, and that the problem could worsen if DVD copying software was made widely available.

Despite the ruling, Mr Moore said the company would continue to fight the US film industry in its "effort to take away our customers' digital rights."

"There is no difference between making a copy of a music CD for personal use and making a backup of a DVD movie for personal use," he said.

"We are so firm in our belief in the principle of fair use that we will appeal this ruling immediately. And we will take our fight all the way to the Supreme Court, if that's what it takes to win."

Last week, 321 Studios released another new program which made it easy to copy PC games onto a hard drive or recordable CD or DVD.

It is hoping Games X Copy, designed to stop parents worrying about their children scratching or damaging a disc, will not spark off similar legal action.