Copy protection

CSS COPY PROTECTION (CONTENT SCRAMBLING SYSTEM)
CSS Copy Protection (Content Scrambling System)
The CSS copy protection system scrambles and encrypts a portion of the video data before they are
copied to the DVD. The key used for the encryption process is placed in the DVD outside the areas
where the data is regularly placed. During reproduction, the CSS chip that’s in the player recognizes
the key and uses it to unencrypt and plays the video. Using a DVD-ROM player or the new generation
of video players, you can obtain the digital information and copy it to a hard disc or similar device.
Nevertheless, the keys needed to unencrypt the data cannot be transferred during the process which
will make the disc unplayable.
The digital keys can be provided inside the original master or DLT or in a floppy disc.
FAQ
1 :: What’s CSS used for?
CSS is used to prevent the digital copy of the contents of a DVD-Video.
2 :: Is CSS useful to prevent the copy of DVD-AUDIO or DVD-ROM ?
No, for these formats you must use different copy protection systems such as CPPM for DVD-Audio
and SecuROM for DVD-ROM.
3 :: What shall a customer do to include CSS in his products?
The customer must request his authoring supplier to set “ON” CSS during said process.
4 :: Can LDA add CSS to a master that doesn’t contain it?
No, if the master was not set with CSS during the authoring process, LDA will not be able to add it
later.
5 :: How many kinds of CSS protection exist?
There are 5 levels of protection:
> Level 0 : no CSS
> Levels 1 & 2: pre-encrypted CSS. The pre-encryption process is performed during the authoring
process.
> Level 3: requires encryption process with CSS. This is the most commonly used level.
> Levels 4 & 5: requires encryption with CSS in certain areas of content, detailed on an attached
table.
6 :: When are these protection levels defined?
These protection levels are defined during the authoring process with relation to the needs of the
customer. Please remember that the standard and most commonly used one is level 3.
7 :: What are the keys?
The keys are digital data that allow the performance of the encryption during the mastering process
and, as they are included in the DVD, they are used afterwards to enable the reproduction of the
contents.
Grupo Laser Disc . Leaders in Replication of Compact Disc and DVD . www.grupolaserdisc.com . © 2006
CSS COPY PROTECTION (CONTENT SCRAMBLING SYSTEM)
8 :: Must the customer provide the keys?
Not necessarily. If the customer performed the authoring process in a CSS licensed studio, the keys
may be provided by said studio. If not, LDA can provide the keys since it has the corresponding
license for this process.
9 :: How must the keys be provided?
The keys can be provided directly in the master or in a separate floppy disc.
10:: How does CSS work?
If someone tries to make a copy from a DVD protected with the CSS system, he will surely
succeed, but since the keys cannot be transferred during the copy process, it won’t be possible to
play the disc.
Grupo Laser Disc . Leaders in Replication of Compact Disc and DVD . www.grupolaserdisc.com . © 2006