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DVD discs have chapter and set-up menus that can be used while the movie is playing. Right-clicking on
the video window and selecting 'Pop-up on' will activate any in-line menu.
DVD Copy Protection
Commercial DVD movies are protected by the Content Scrambling System (CSS). Blu-Ray and HD DVD
movies are protected by the Advanced Access Content System (AACS). These schemes determine what
can be played, copied, or displayed. There are three portions of CSS and AACS: Regionalization, Copy
Control, and Output Control.
Regionalization
DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray specifications divide the world into regions for playback of different discs.
Content designated for one region cannot be read by playback systems in another region.
DVD and HD DVD specifications divide the world into seven unique regions. These regions are
numbered '1' to '7'. The region codes for DVD and HD DVD are stored in the drive. The DVD and HD
DVD specifications enable an initial setting and four setting changes. On the initial setting, no disc is
required to change the code. On a region change, a single region disc from the proper region must be in
the drive. After the last change is used, the drive becomes locked into the last setting forever. Since the
drive manages the regionalization of DVD and HD DVD, both the drive and the disc can be checked for
the region. WinDVD will alert you if a wrong region disc is inserted, and offer you the choice of
changing the region. You can decide to change the region or cancel playback at that time.
The Blu-ray specification divides the world into three unique regions. Blu-ray regions are lettered 'A' to
'C'. The region code for Blu-ray is stored in the registry of your computer. Blu-ray enables an initial
setting and four setting changes. Blu-ray does not enable a player to check the region before playing. So
any region can be set regardless of whether the disc is in the drive or not. After the last change is used,
Windows becomes locked into the last setting forever. With the setting stored in the software, re-installing
Windows will reset the Blu-ray player to 'no region'.
Copy Control
There are several types of copy control used in DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray video. Copy control is used
to prevent a physical copy of the disc from being made. The types of copy control are Content
Scrambling System Encryption, AACS Encryption, and Copy Generation Management System.
Content Scrambling System Encryption physically prevents a DVD from being read. The drive cannot
read CSS encrypted sectors unless using CSS keys from an authorized player.
AACS encryption is employed on a file basis. The files on the disc are decrypted for playback using keys
stored outside the disc data area and in the software. The AACS keys in the Blu-ray / HD DVD drive
software expire every 18 months and must be renewed. Renewal is an automatic internet process that
happens when the player detects that the AACS keys have expired. AACS encrypted files can be copied
freely, but cannot be played without having the disc and an authorized player. HD DVD and Blu-ray use
AACS in slightly different ways. HD DVD enables copying and playback of the files from the hard disk
drive if the HD DVD disc is present. Blu-ray forbids any use of the files except on the original media.
CGMS is a data section on a CD, DVD, HD DVD, or Blu-ray disc. The CGMS bits mark a disc as 'copy
freely', 'copy one generation', 'copy never', or 'already copied'. Software and hardware that can copy
discs should follow the CGMS bits and only copy when permitted. Almost all pressed video discs are set
to 'copy never'.
Output Control
Output control is applied to the video signals that are displayed by the Blu-ray / HD DVD drive. The
important forms of output control are Macrovision, High Definition Content Protection (HDCP), Serial
Copy Management System (SCMS), and Disc Tokens.
9
Chapter 2. Using the Lenovo Blu-ray Burner / HD DVD Player
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