Copying Streaming Video at DVinfo.net

Glenn Gipson · February 6th, 2005, 01:23 PM

How easy (or hard) is it to copy streaming video?

John McManimie · February 7th, 2005, 12:19 PM

...as easy as it is to download and install an application that captures streams (such as Stream Down at http://www.cocsoft.com/). It is just as easy for someone with a little knowledge, even without a dedicated application like that.

John

Dan Euritt · February 7th, 2005, 06:45 PM

you can't legally copy streaming video that has been encoded with digital rights management... if websites posted software to do that, they'd be in violation of the dmca law.

about the best you could to is to use screen capture software in those cases.

John McManimie · February 7th, 2005, 08:08 PM

True, Dan. However, if Glenn is concerned with protecting his own video (I guess I inferred that), he should be aware that it can be copied (illegally) if someone who truly chooses to do so does the research.

Rob Lohman · February 8th, 2005, 07:04 AM

1. videos posted on a HTTP link: can be downloaded with most browsers and definitely with any download manager

2. true streaming videos on rstp:// and mms:// links can (usually) be downloaded with the right tools (= specialized media)

3. DRM protected video (usually Windows Media) might be downloadable, but will usually not play (depends on the DRM flags etc.)

Dan Euritt · February 8th, 2005, 12:18 PM

i recently did a bunch of research on this, wrt windows media audio files.

microsoft has had several versions of their digital rights management software... one of the early drm versions was cracked, but i was not able to find any reference to cracks for the latest drm stuff.

so yeah, as rob posted, you can download it, but it requires a drm-equipped player to play... unless it's itunes drm audio, which i believe has been cracked.

what's needed with microsoft drm is a license server, and there aren't many of those around, maybe a dozen or so that'll deal with the public? $25/mo for 5,000 licenses was one of the cheapest rates, but i'm thinking that once you encode the url of the license server into the media file that's distributed, it's out of your hands... change license servers, and you've lost track of the file, which may or may not be an issue.

the flexability of drm-equipped files is incredible... i want to put free full-frame video downloads on the bittorret circuit, with free licensing useage for one computer, just to see the useage stats, and for branding purposes.

within the last couple of months, companies like sbc and verizon have started spending hundreds of millions of $$ on settop players that'll download video over the 'net... this is the future, it's happening with drm, and it could be content that we create and/or encode.

Cliff Hepburn · February 8th, 2005, 12:35 PM

Do you have an example of streaming video?
website? whatever?

Dan Euritt · February 9th, 2005, 08:26 PM

not sure who you directed your question at, but if you want streaming media examples, try http://windowsmedia.com/MediaGuide/Home

February 6th, 2005, 01:23 PM	#1
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	Copying Streaming Video How easy (or hard) is it to copy streaming video?

February 8th, 2005, 07:04 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	1. videos posted on a HTTP link: can be downloaded with most browsers and definitely with any download manager 2. true streaming videos on rstp:// and mms:// links can (usually) be downloaded with the right tools (= specialized media) 3. DRM protected video (usually Windows Media) might be downloadable, but will usually not play (depends on the DRM flags etc.) __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 7th, 2005, 12:19 PM	#2
John McManimie Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 314	...as easy as it is to download and install an application that captures streams (such as Stream Down at http://www.cocsoft.com/). It is just as easy for someone with a little knowledge, even without a dedicated application like that. John

February 7th, 2005, 06:45 PM	#3
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	you can't legally copy streaming video that has been encoded with digital rights management... if websites posted software to do that, they'd be in violation of the dmca law. about the best you could to is to use screen capture software in those cases.

February 7th, 2005, 08:08 PM	#4
John McManimie Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 314	True, Dan. However, if Glenn is concerned with protecting his own video (I guess I inferred that), he should be aware that it can be copied (illegally) if someone who truly chooses to do so does the research.

February 8th, 2005, 12:18 PM	#6
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	i recently did a bunch of research on this, wrt windows media audio files. microsoft has had several versions of their digital rights management software... one of the early drm versions was cracked, but i was not able to find any reference to cracks for the latest drm stuff. so yeah, as rob posted, you can download it, but it requires a drm-equipped player to play... unless it's itunes drm audio, which i believe has been cracked. what's needed with microsoft drm is a license server, and there aren't many of those around, maybe a dozen or so that'll deal with the public? $25/mo for 5,000 licenses was one of the cheapest rates, but i'm thinking that once you encode the url of the license server into the media file that's distributed, it's out of your hands... change license servers, and you've lost track of the file, which may or may not be an issue. the flexability of drm-equipped files is incredible... i want to put free full-frame video downloads on the bittorret circuit, with free licensing useage for one computer, just to see the useage stats, and for branding purposes. within the last couple of months, companies like sbc and verizon have started spending hundreds of millions of $$ on settop players that'll download video over the 'net... this is the future, it's happening with drm, and it could be content that we create and/or encode.

February 8th, 2005, 12:35 PM	#7
Cliff Hepburn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 75	Do you have an example of streaming video? website? whatever?

February 9th, 2005, 08:26 PM	#8
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	not sure who you directed your question at, but if you want streaming media examples, try http://windowsmedia.com/MediaGuide/Home