re: "Print" key derails copy protection...

re: "Print" key derails copy protection in first-gen HD software
No, Not Really

This process accomlishes the task of video capture basically in an analouge way. It waits for the picture to be decoded to analouge then records the analouge image. If you have a crappy GFX card, low resolution display, or any other thing that negetively impacts DVD image quality it will be reflected in your recording. Basically the same as connecting an analouge video out and recording the video stream on another computer, only slower and using one computer instead of two (potentially at higher quality, but good real-time audio and video recording cards such as those use for HTPCs , do exist, so this is a moot point). This method offers no new capabilities not currently available with every other movie format, just saves you from having to buy an additional video capture device at the cost of making it take a lot longer to compile what is essencially an analouge recording. This is much different from a truely digital rip wherein the computer doesn't need any video or audio capabilities at all, nor does it have any minimum system requirements to produce full-quality rips (more systems resources merely reduce the time required to rip). There is no way to really stop this unless analouge output is done away with entirely and every multi-media output device has integrated descrambling logic (which would make them more expensive). Even then all you would need is a descrambler box, much like those available for descrambling premium analouge cable channels, (only with a digital to analouge converter, of course).

When I watched The Matrix days before it came out it was brought to me by somone who set up a cam-corder in a movie theatre. How is copy protection supposed to stop that? This "hack" does not comprimise any copy protection, it is merely a creative way to accompish an analouge loop-back within a single computer system.