Global DVD Movie Piracy And Misuse Thwarted By Panasonic BCA System

12-Nov-01

A little known and under-appreciated product from Panasonic is quietly assuming a vital role in the DVD industry's war on piracy in the movie and entertainment business.Known as the DVD Burst Cutting Area (BCA) Recorder, the machine enables the encryption of an undetectable but readable laser-burned serial number on a completed disc. This number enables the tracking of each individual disc and can signal misuses, including piracy.While the actual total cost of disc piracy cannot be determined, it is estimated to run as high as $15 billion worldwide, of which a hefty portion occurs in the movie and entertainment business.Martin van Overbeek, DVD Sales Manager for Panasonic Factory Automation Company, claims the company first offered the BCA machine in 1997, however, research began on the technology to produce such a device about ten years ago. ""While it has other extremely valuable potentials, its adaptation to anti-piracy efforts is likely to prove its most valuable contribution,"" he says.According to van Overbeek, BCA uses are varied. Warner Advanced Media (WAMO) is using BCA for movie copy protection, Microsoft is using copy protection systems on its software, Panasonic Disc Services Corp. is using BCA to protect the integrity of Nintendo Game Cube Discs, and New Line Home Entertainment used BCA on a recent DVD movie disc to include a special promotional offer. Divx, you'll remember, used BCA to unlock a rental movie disc for a 48 hour period.Other BCA uses/features include: electronic coupons, online contests, content rental programs such as ""try then buy,"" ""pay per view"" etc., tracking usage of discs, revenue sharing, anti-piracy plans where content owners receive automatic notification of disc misuse etc.Panasonic's BCA encrypts the serial number data on the lead-in area of finished DVD-ROM or DVD discs. The code is recorded on the inner ring of the disc to produce a readable bar code pattern. Burning is done at the lead-in area of the disc to ensure no damage to the recorded movie.Additional information about the BCA unit and its adaptation to disc manufacturing environments is available at www.panasonicfa.com.

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