List of copy protection schemes

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This is a list of notable copy protection schemes for various medias.

Contents

Computer Software protection schemes

Dongle
Hardware key containing electronic serial number required to run the software; relatively expensive and has no recovery when the hardware breaks.
Product Activation
Requiring user to verify the license, often by entering a Product key in order to activate and use the software; some activation schemes require sending registration information over internet to prevent the same product key from being used by multiple users. In some cases, users are required to call a number to register and receive device-specific serial number.
Bus encryption
Use of encrypted code together with Secure cryptoprocessor so only the machine with cryptoprocessor could execute the program; used in systems that require high security such as ATMs.
Keyfile
A file with activation key that needs to be installed in same directory as software; similarly, a disc media (often installation disc) may be required as key disk for activation. [1]
Code Morphing
Hiding intermediate code by means of code obfuscation so that execution logic is not visible. This method does not protect against runtime tracing. [2]

Commercial CD/DVD protection schemes

Commercial Blu-ray Disc protection schemes

AACS
The encrypted content can only be decrypted using combination of media key (obtained from Media Key Block by one of device keys available for each reproduction devices) and the Volume ID (unique identifiers stored on each disk) of the media.
BD+
The BD+ virtual machine embedded in authorized players will execute programs included in Blu-ray discs, allowing to verify the player's keys, transform the output so that content is unscrambled, and/or execute native code to patch the system against vulnerabilities. Based on concept of self-protecting digital content.
ROM-Mark
Recorders will check for watermark that cannot be duplicated by consumer-level recorders, allowing authentic media for movies, musics and games.

Digital Audio/Video Transmission protection schemes

DTCP
Encrypts interconnection between devices so "digital home" technologies such as DVD players and televisions are restricted.
HDCP
Transmitting device checks before sending that receiver is authorized to receive the data. The data is encrypted during transmission to prevent eavesdropping.
Serial Copy Management System
Records in the sub code data bits that expresses whether the media is copy allowed(00), copy once(10) or copy prohibited(11).
Traitor Tracing
Rather than directly preventing copying, embeds user information into files so if they are uploaded, the copyright holder could find out exactly who uploaded the file.

Protection Schemes for Other Media

CGMS-A (Analog Television Signals)
Inserts a waveform into the non-picture Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) of the analog video signal so compatible device can block or restrict recording when the waveform is detected.
Spiradisc (Floppy Disk)
Writes data on spiraling paths rather than in concentric circles.
USB-Cops (USB-stick)
Using a normal USB-stick as a key.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secure cryptoprocessor</span> Device used for encryption

A secure cryptoprocessor is a dedicated computer-on-a-chip or microprocessor for carrying out cryptographic operations, embedded in a packaging with multiple physical security measures, which give it a degree of tamper resistance. Unlike cryptographic processors that output decrypted data onto a bus in a secure environment, a secure cryptoprocessor does not output decrypted data or decrypted program instructions in an environment where security cannot always be maintained.

Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy prevention and copy restriction, describes measures to enforce copyright by preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Software protection dongle</span> Electronic software copy protection device

A software protection dongle is an electronic copy protection and content protection device. When connected to a computer or other electronics, they unlock software functionality or decode content. The hardware key is programmed with a product key or other cryptographic protection mechanism and functions via an electrical connector to an external bus of the computer or appliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USB flash drive</span> Data storage device

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Traitor tracing schemes help trace the source of leaks when secret or proprietary data is sold to many customers. In a traitor tracing scheme, each customer is given a different personal decryption key. (Traitor tracing schemes are often combined with conditional access systems so that, once the traitor tracing algorithm identifies a personal decryption key associated with the leak, the content distributor can revoke that personal decryption key, allowing honest customers to continue to watch pay television while the traitor and all the unauthorized users using the traitor's personal decryption key are cut off.)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BitLocker</span> Disk encryption software for Microsoft Windows

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Self Protecting Digital Content (SPDC), is a copy protection architecture designed by Cryptography Research, Inc. for Blu-ray discs.

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dm-crypt is a transparent block device encryption subsystem in Linux kernel versions 2.6 and later and in DragonFly BSD. It is part of the device mapper (dm) infrastructure, and uses cryptographic routines from the kernel's Crypto API. Unlike its predecessor cryptoloop, dm-crypt was designed to support advanced modes of operation, such as XTS, LRW and ESSIV, in order to avoid watermarking attacks. In addition to that, dm-crypt addresses some reliability problems of cryptoloop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced Access Content System</span> Standard for content distribution and digital rights management

The Advanced Access Content System (AACS) is a standard for content distribution and digital rights management, intended to restrict access to and copying of the post-DVD generation of optical discs. The specification was publicly released in April 2005. The standard has been adopted as the access restriction scheme for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD). It is developed by AACS Licensing Administrator, LLC, a consortium that includes Disney, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Warner Bros., IBM, Toshiba and Sony. AACS has been operating under an "interim agreement" since the final specification has not yet been finalized.

BD+ is a component of the Blu-ray Disc digital rights management system. It was developed by Cryptography Research Inc. and is based on their Self-Protecting Digital Content concept. Its intent was to prevent unauthorized copies of Blu-ray discs and the playback of Blu-ray media using unauthorized devices.

In computer security, a cold boot attack is a type of side channel attack in which an attacker with physical access to a computer performs a memory dump of a computer's random-access memory (RAM) by performing a hard reset of the target machine. Typically, cold boot attacks are used for retrieving encryption keys from a running operating system for malicious or criminal investigative reasons. The attack relies on the data remanence property of DRAM and SRAM to retrieve memory contents that remain readable in the seconds to minutes following a power switch-off.

Tagès was a software copy protection system, jointly developed, at first, by MPO and the Thales Group starting in 1999. Its method of protection has since been described as twin sectors.

The Content Scramble System (CSS) is a digital rights management (DRM) and encryption system employed on many commercially produced DVD-Video discs. CSS utilizes a proprietary 40-bit stream cipher algorithm. The system was introduced around 1996 and was first compromised in 1999.

Secure USB flash drives protect the data stored on them from access by unauthorized users. USB flash drive products have been on the market since 2000, and their use is increasing exponentially. As both consumers and businesses have increased demand for these drives, manufacturers are producing faster devices with greater data storage capacities.

References

  1. Ashe, Philip R. "Copy protection for a recordable medium and for controlling a recorder." [U.S. Patent No. 6,070,799|http://www.google.ca/patents/US6070799?printsec=abstract&hl=ja&f=false#v=onepage&q&f=false]. 6 Jun. 2000.
  2. Collberg, C.S.; Thomborson, C. (28 Aug 2002). "Watermarking, tamper-proofing, and obfuscation - tools for software protection". IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. 28 (8): 735–746. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.65.9850 . doi:10.1109/TSE.2002.1027797.