Qflix

Qflix is a proprietary technology developed and licensed by Sonic Solutions to add CSS copy protection/DRM to recordable DVD-R media.

It is an alternative command set to the open standardized method of recording CSS to recordable media defined by the IT industry in the Mt- Fuji standard. Sonic hopes to establish Qflix as an alternative to the standard recordable CSS implementation and charge royalties for its use.

Recordable CSS (also known as CSS Managed Recording) has first been announced by Sonic Solutions end of 2005 and has been enabled by the DVD-CCA in an amendment late in 2007 [ [http://www.dvdcca.org/DVDCCA%20Press%20Release%20070920.pdf DVDCCA press release] ] . By using recordable CSS, movies can be burned to DVD in encrypted form just as on regular mass manufactured DVDs.

Burning CSS to recordable DVD (by using propitiatory Qflix or the open standard command set) requires propitiatory DVD burner hard- and firmware and propitiatory recordable DVD-R media. Both drives and media are not available at present and no release dates have been announced. Prices of the drives and media are expected to be significantly higher because of the license fees and separate production steps required to manufacture the media.

Recordable CSS DVD media are not compatible with standard DVD-Burners and will not be recognized as empty media. Writing to DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW or DVD-9 media is not possible.

DVDs recorded with CSS are significantly less compatible with DVD-Players than standard recordable DVDs because most DVD-Players (maybe with the exception of very new models) do not know the new disc type.

Usage

Currently no online video service uses Qflix but Sonic has announced [ [http://www.sonic.com/about/press/news/2006/01/authorscript_dod.aspx Sonic announcement] ] that it expects first licensees by end of 2008 and that it is working with some video services to integrate their online offering into the Sonic Venue application.

Advantages

Sonic states that the use of Qflix is superior to the use of the standardized Mt. Fuji DVD-Burner command set because consumer will recognize the “Qflix” brand because of Sonic Solutions marketing activities.

Criticism

An alternative command set to the standardized way of burning CSS to DVD-R media confuses the end user. Also the requirement to purchase a new DVD-Burner and special media which are not compatible to normal DVD-Burners is likely to create additional confusion.

Alternatives

Alternatives to record CSS to DVD-Rs by using the open standardized command set have been announced by FluxDVD and Nero. Other manufacturers are likely to follow if burner and media will become available.

Non CSS alternatives for recordable DVDs are available from Macrovision, Sony, Protect Software, XProtect and Fortium.

Notes

References

* [http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/04/qflix-promises-to-expedite-download-to-burn-dvd-adoption/ engadget]
* [http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-on-demand-dvd-burning-inching-closer-to-reality paidContent.org]
* [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS85452+11-Feb-2008+PRN20080211 Reuters]
* [http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/01/04/sonics-qflix-frees-your-movie-downloads/ CrunchGear]
* [http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6583745.html?industryid=47212 VideoBusiness]

See also

*DVD Copy Control Association
*Content Scramble System
*Copy protection
*Digital rights management

External links

* [http://www.sonic.com/dvd-on-demand/moreinfo.aspx#qflix Qflix Product Site]
* [http://www.dvdcca.org/ DVD Copy Control Association]
* [http://www.dvdcca.org/AMENDMENT%20TO%20THE%20CSS%20PROCEDURAL%20SPECIFICATIONS%20_Managed%20Re.pdf DVD-CCA Managed Recording Amendment]
* [ftp://ftp.avc-pioneer.com/Mtfuji_7/Spec/Fuji7r092.zip Mt. Fuji standard]
* [http://www.fluxdvd.com FluxDVD]
* [http://www.nero.com Nero]