Copy protection

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 this section for copy-protection measures within HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs.

DRM icons

Common Copy Protection Measures

Since the era of floppy disks (circa 70s-90s) saw a constant battle between software developers and copy pirates. To protect their valuable software, developers employed various copy protection methods, creating a fascinating game of technological innovation.

70s-90s (On-Disk and Off-Disk Copy Protections)

On-disk methods involved manipulating the data on the floppy disk itself to hinder copying:

• Non-Standard Disk Formats: Software might format the disk in a way incompatible with standard copying programs, requiring specialized tools.
• Invalid Checksums/CRCs (Cyclic Redundancy Checks): Adding errors to checksums, data verification tools, would cause copied disks to fail integrity checks.
• Hidden Data: Data essential for the software's operation could be hidden in unused sectors or encoded in special ways, making it difficult for copying software to detect and copy accurately.
• Bad Sectors: Deliberate introduction of bad sectors on the disk would cause errors during the copy process, leading to incomplete or unusable copies.
• Index/Offset Data Alignment: Misaligning data sectors or index information could confuse copying software, resulting in garbled data on the copy.
• Weak/Flaky Bits: Data bits on the disk could be weakened intentionally, causing them to be misread during copying, leading to program instability on the copied disk.

Off-disk methods relied on external factors to prevent unauthorized copying:

• The Code Wheel: A physical wheel with codes printed on it, included with the software. The program might prompt the user for specific codes from the wheel during installation, preventing copying without the physical wheel.
• Manuals with Unlock Codes: Unlock codes printed in the software manual were required during installation, making copying without the manual difficult.
• Copy Protection Software: Separate software programs might be included on the disk, checking for the presence of the original media before allowing installation.

As with any security measure, these copy protection methods eventually faced their match. Skilled programmers developed tools and techniques to bypass these protections, creating "cracks" that allowed users to copy software. This ongoing battle between protection and cracking fueled the innovation in both areas throughout the floppy disk era.

LGR: The History of DRM & Copy Protection in Computer Games

Technology Connections: Macrovision - The Copy Protection in VHS

The rise of digital distribution and more robust security measures eventually rendered floppy disk copy protection obsolete. However, the ingenuity and creativity behind these early methods remain a fascinating chapter in the history of software protection.

2000s

• Digital Rights Management (DRM): DRM restricts how a disc's content can be accessed or copied. It may require online activation, limit installations to a certain number of devices, or disable specific features on copied discs. See PCGamingWiki: Types of DRM methods on Discs.
• Middleware: SecuROM is one of the most well-known examples, SecuROM (introduced in 1998) employed a combination of techniques. It used disc encryption, monitored system resources for signs of copying, and sometimes included features like copy limitation or online authentication. LaserLock is a middleware relied on a special authentication layer burned onto the disc itself. During installation, the software would verify the presence of this layer to ensure it was an original disc. SafeDisc is Similar to SecuROM, utilized disc encryption and copy protection features. It was also known for its aggressive copy protection measures, which sometimes caused conflicts with legitimate software or hardware. See PCGamingWiki DRM#Middleware section.
• CD-checks: Software on the disc searches for specific data patterns or physical characteristics to verify it's an original disc and not a copy.
• Dummy files: Irrelevant data files are added to the disc to confuse copying software and increase the disc size beyond its standard capacity, making it difficult to copy entirely.
• Illegal tables of contents: Errors are introduced in the data layout information on the disc, tricking copying software into making an unusable copy.
• Over-sizing/over-burning: The disc is encoded with more data than its standard capacity allows. This may prevent some copying software from handling it properly.
• Physical errors and bad sectors: Intentional imperfections are introduced on the disc's surface to prevent reliable reading by copying tools.

Many older software programs and games are unusable today because some of the original copy protection methods relied on activation servers that are no longer operational.

Tech Tangents: Digital Decay Of 2000's PC Game DRM

MVG: SecuROM - The PC CD-ROM DRM that broke games

Physical Reliability vs. Digital Storage

While digital storage boasts superior convenience and accessibility, it relies on proper backups to ensure long-term data integrity. Media failure or file corruption can still lead to data loss. Physical discs, on the other hand, present their own challenges.

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.[1]"

Physical Storage: "Physical media provides a sense of tangible ownership, even though some copy protection methods may limit resale or sharing options. Most of the time you still have greater control over your discs or cartridges compared to digital ownership."

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. Although there are several convenient options such as using Network-attached storage (NAS) or cloud service providers for your digital storage and preservation."

Physical Storage: "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.[2] However, with proper care, physical discs and cartridges can last for decades, making them a more reliable format for long-term archival purposes. The drawback is the significant physical storage space they require."

3. Vulnerability to Loss

Digital Storage: "Digital storage is susceptible to data loss due to server crashes, malware attacks, or accidental deletion. Proper backups are crucial to mitigate this risk."

Physical Storage: "Physical media can be lost, stolen, or damaged through accidents. Fire, floods, or mishandling can destroy your physical collection."

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 content on platforms like Android can be especially vulnerable to access loss. Providers may remove content from digital stores due to censorship, copyright issues even after purchase, or simply decide to delist the software entirely.[3] This is compounded by the challenge of preserving older mobile software. Many older applications, with their associated APK and data files, become unusable over time due to a lack of proper preservation efforts. Even those successfully preserved applications can still face hurdles due to restrictive copy protection methods like defunct activation check servers."

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."

Bypassing Copy Protection

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_&_ISO_sites#Bypassing_Copy_Protection section.

On mobile platforms like Android, a large number of older software applications are unusable today due to copy protection. As a result, some users resort to patching the executables to bypass the protection and preserve the files including "APK and Data" files. But as mentioned in Copy_protection#Physical_Reliability_vs._Digital_Storage section, even those successfully preserved applications can still face hurdles due to restrictive copy protection methods like defunct activation check servers.

Download required and online dependent discs

While not directly related to disc copy protection;

• 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 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 eighth-generation and later consoles). In these cases, the disc itself has limited functionality, retaining value primarily for historical preservation purposes. See DoesItPlay.org for more information about this.

Emulation

• Daemon Tools can act as emulator for middleware like SecuROM, essentially trick the software into thinking the original protected disc is present, allowing it to run without the actual disc.
• 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.
• 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.
• There are some revive projects out there for emulating some of the middleware type protections such as Games for Windows - LIVE.

DOSBox-X issue page: SafeDisc / SecuROM emulation for games

See also

• Preservation projects
• Ripping and dumping
• DVD game emulation player
• Home Media Player
• Legal Status of Emulation

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• Main Page#Personal computers
• DOS-based, Windows 1.0x/2x/3x series
• Windows 9x series
• Windows 2000, XP and Vista
• PC Emulator Comparisons

External links

• StopKillingGames.com
• DoesItPlay.org
• PCGamingWiki: Digital rights management (DRM)
• PCGamingWiki: The big list of third-party DRM on Steam
• PCGamingWiki: List of DRM-free games on Epic Games Store
• Wikipedia: Copy Protection
• Wikipedia: Digital rights management (DRM)
• Wikipedia: Compact Disc and DVD copy protection
• Wikipedia: List of Compact Disc and DVD copy protection schemes
• Steam Curator: Online activation required Denuvo Games
• 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 DEIDetected.com.