A recent announcement by a number of studios have has been made that at the beginning of 2010 user will be allowed to create backup of the Blu-ray discs they own.
Something that has been a grey legal area for a number of years now is the legality of making backups of media like DVD and Blu-ray from discs that have been brought. Any users of Blu-ray technology will, from the beginning of next year be given the option to make single and legal copy of any Blu-ray media that they purchase.
This facility is something that many people have been fighting hard for over the last few years but it would appear that it is something that the Advanced Access Content System License Administrator (AACSLA) has forced upon both holder of content and the studios alike.
Although it has only recently been finalised this requirement, which will be called the “managed copy”, has been in the pipeline for the Blu-ray format for some time.
Customers will be allowed to make a single backup copy in full resolution of almost any BD that has been released after Q1 2010 once the mandatory order for the managed copy of Blu-ray disc kicks in.
The only small issue at the moment for users looking to play their managed copies of Blu-ray content is that generation of Blu-ray players that are currently available on the market are unable to read these types of disc. It is expected, however, that the next generation of Blu-ray player due to enter the market at some point in the second quarter of 2010 or later will have this capability built-in.
There is also a distinct possibility that the owners of the Blu-ray content will have complete control of these managed backups and they may even be given the option to offer additional copies for sale or choose to charge users extra for any copies that are made.
Once Blu-ray players are released that are able to make these copies they will no doubt become highly popular because no matter how many restrictions are put in place, any amount of extra flexibility will be greatly appreciated by most users.
Source - http://uk.gear.ign.com