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− | From the analog copy protection notches on VHS tapes to the sophisticated encryption and middleware of Discs, the battle against unauthorized copying has been a constant thread throughout the history of data storage. Disc copy protection refers to various methods used to prevent unauthorized copying of data from CDs, DVDs, and other optical discs. These methods aim to protect copyrighted content like software, movies, and music. | + | From the analog copy protection notches on VHS tapes to the sophisticated encryption and middleware of Discs, the battle against unauthorized copying has been a constant thread throughout the history of data storage. Disc copy protection refers to various methods used to prevent unauthorized copying of data from CDs, DVDs, and other optical discs. These methods aim to protect copyrighted content like software, movies, and music. See [[Home_Media_Player#Media_player_software|this section]] for copy-protection measures within HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs. |
[[File:DRM-icons.png|thumb|298px|DRM icons]] | [[File:DRM-icons.png|thumb|298px|DRM icons]] | ||
=Common Copy Protection Measures= | =Common Copy Protection Measures= | ||
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;1. Access Control and Ownership: | ;1. Access Control and Ownership: | ||
− | :'''Digital Storage''': "While digital storage offers convenience, ownership of digital media can be murky. Unlike owning a physical copy of a game or movie, digital ownership often grants a license to access the content, not true ownership. For example: digital store platforms like Steam may have policies that restrict access to your digital library after death.[https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/05/after-you-die-your-steam-games-will-be-stuck-in-legal-limbo/]" | + | :'''Digital Storage''': "While digital storage offers convenience, ownership of digital media can be murky. Unlike owning a physical copy of a game or movie, digital ownership often grants a license to access the content, not true ownership. For example: digital store platforms like Steam may have policies that restrict access to your digital library after death.[https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/05/after-you-die-your-steam-games-will-be-stuck-in-legal-limbo/]." |
− | :'''Physical Storage''': "Physical media provides a sense of tangible ownership | + | :'''Physical Storage''': "Physical media provides a sense of tangible ownership. You have complete control over your discs or cartridges and can share or sell them as you wish." |
;2. Long-Term Preservation: | ;2. Long-Term Preservation: | ||
− | :'''Digital Storage''': "Digital storage formats and platforms can become obsolete over time. Reading a floppy disk today is a challenge, and future technology might not be able to access current digital formats. Long-term preservation of digital media requires ongoing migration and maintenance | + | :'''Digital Storage''': "Digital storage formats and platforms can become obsolete over time. Reading a floppy disk today is a challenge, and future technology might not be able to access current digital formats. Long-term preservation of digital media requires ongoing migration and maintenance." |
− | :'''Physical Storage''': " | + | :'''Physical Storage''': "While physical media can degrade over time due to disc rot or scratches. Disc rot is a gradual chemical breakdown of the disc's reflective layer, rendering the data unreadable over time and is a concern for long-term data archiving.[https://youtu.be/BYwvC6kDxUg] However with proper care, physical discs and cartridges can last for decades. They are a more reliable format for long-term archival purposes." |
;3. Vulnerability to Loss: | ;3. Vulnerability to Loss: | ||
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;4. Censorship and Availability: | ;4. Censorship and Availability: | ||
− | :'''Digital Storage''': "Digital content can be censored or removed from online platforms by the provider or due to copyright issues. This can lead to the loss of access to previously purchased digital media | + | :'''Digital Storage''': "Digital content can be censored or removed from online platforms by the provider or due to copyright issues. This can lead to the loss of access to previously purchased digital media." |
:'''Physical Storage''': "Physical media offers more control over access and censorship. Once you own a physical copy, it cannot be easily removed or altered by a third party." | :'''Physical Storage''': "Physical media offers more control over access and censorship. Once you own a physical copy, it cannot be easily removed or altered by a third party." | ||
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:''This section is for informational purposes only.'' | :''This section is for informational purposes only.'' | ||
Distributors rarely release official patches to bypass activation, updates that remove online activation requirements altogether, if their servers are down. Some software cracks bypass copy protection checks, allowing installation and use of software without the original disc. These modified executables, often called "NoCD" or "NoDVD" cracks, are distributed on illegal sources. See [[ROM_%26_ISO_sites#Bypassing_Copy_Protection]] section. | Distributors rarely release official patches to bypass activation, updates that remove online activation requirements altogether, if their servers are down. Some software cracks bypass copy protection checks, allowing installation and use of software without the original disc. These modified executables, often called "NoCD" or "NoDVD" cracks, are distributed on illegal sources. See [[ROM_%26_ISO_sites#Bypassing_Copy_Protection]] section. | ||
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=Download required and online dependent discs= | =Download required and online dependent discs= | ||
− | While | + | While not directly related to disc copy protection; |
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− | * Some | + | * Some MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) games distributed on discs (like Aion, Guild Wars, and Overwatch 1) become unplayable once the game servers are shut down. The disc itself is useless. In these cases, the discs retain value only for [[Preservation_projects|historical preservation]] purposes. However some MMOs are unplayable by server shutdown, enthusiasts may create and maintain private game servers to keep the games alive unofficially. See [[Preservation projects#Private Game Servers]] section for revived private game server projects. |
* Some discs require downloaded patches and incompatible with offline play (especially for [[:Category:Eighth-generation_video_game_consoles|eighth-generation]] and later consoles). In these cases, the disc itself has limited functionality, retaining value primarily for [[Preservation_projects|historical preservation]] purposes. See [https://www.doesitplay.org/ DoesItPlay.org] for more information about this. | * Some discs require downloaded patches and incompatible with offline play (especially for [[:Category:Eighth-generation_video_game_consoles|eighth-generation]] and later consoles). In these cases, the disc itself has limited functionality, retaining value primarily for [[Preservation_projects|historical preservation]] purposes. See [https://www.doesitplay.org/ DoesItPlay.org] for more information about this. | ||
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=Emulation= | =Emulation= | ||
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*[https://github.com/Luca1991/DiscCheckEmu DiscCheckEmu] can bypass copy protection measure that rely on "Disc Checks." Disc Checks involve the software verifying the presence of specific data patterns on the disc. DiscCheckEmu can potentially spoof these checks, deceiving the software. | *[https://github.com/Luca1991/DiscCheckEmu DiscCheckEmu] can bypass copy protection measure that rely on "Disc Checks." Disc Checks involve the software verifying the presence of specific data patterns on the disc. DiscCheckEmu can potentially spoof these checks, deceiving the software. | ||
*[https://github.com/nckstwrt/SafeDiscLoader SafeDiscLoader] targeting middleware like specific versions of SafeDisc (2.7 to the latest 4.9), might utilize techniques like DLL (Dynamic Link Library) hooking to emulate disc checks or bypass other protection mechanisms employed by that particular middleware version. | *[https://github.com/nckstwrt/SafeDiscLoader SafeDiscLoader] targeting middleware like specific versions of SafeDisc (2.7 to the latest 4.9), might utilize techniques like DLL (Dynamic Link Library) hooking to emulate disc checks or bypass other protection mechanisms employed by that particular middleware version. | ||
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* There are some [[Preservation_projects#Private_Platform_Servers|revive projects]] out there for emulating some of the middleware type protections such as Games for Windows - LIVE. | * There are some [[Preservation_projects#Private_Platform_Servers|revive projects]] out there for emulating some of the middleware type protections such as Games for Windows - LIVE. | ||
:[https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/issues/211 DOSBox-X issue page: SafeDisc / SecuROM emulation for games] | :[https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/issues/211 DOSBox-X issue page: SafeDisc / SecuROM emulation for games] | ||
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=See also= | =See also= | ||
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*[[Home Media Player]] | *[[Home Media Player]] | ||
*[[Legal Status of Emulation]] | *[[Legal Status of Emulation]] | ||
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+ | --- | ||
*[[Main_Page#Personal_computers_(...)|Main Page#Personal computers]] | *[[Main_Page#Personal_computers_(...)|Main Page#Personal computers]] | ||
− | *[[ | + | *[[POS_(Pong_Consoles)_CPUs_and_Other_Chips#x86_CPUs|DOS-based, Windows 1.0x/2x/3x series]] |
*[[Windows_95/98/ME_emulators|Windows 9x series]] | *[[Windows_95/98/ME_emulators|Windows 9x series]] | ||
*[[Windows_2000/XP/Vista_emulators|Windows 2000, XP and Vista]] | *[[Windows_2000/XP/Vista_emulators|Windows 2000, XP and Vista]] | ||
− | + | *[[PC Emulator Comparisons]] | |
− | *[[ | ||
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=External links= | =External links= | ||
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*[https://store.steampowered.com/curator/26095454-Denuvo-Games/ Steam Curator: Online activation required Denuvo Games] | *[https://store.steampowered.com/curator/26095454-Denuvo-Games/ Steam Curator: Online activation required Denuvo Games] | ||
*[https://www.gog.com/ GOG.com] - formerly known as "Good Old Games" is a digital distribution platform for video games and films, delivers DRM-free video games through its digital platform for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux. Although both GOG.com and CD Projekt Red recently adopted DEI policies. See [https://deidetected.com/ DEIDetected.com]. | *[https://www.gog.com/ GOG.com] - formerly known as "Good Old Games" is a digital distribution platform for video games and films, delivers DRM-free video games through its digital platform for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux. Although both GOG.com and CD Projekt Red recently adopted DEI policies. See [https://deidetected.com/ DEIDetected.com]. | ||
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