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Question

Protecting USB drives

Apr 13, 2017 7:50PM PDT

Hello,

I'm looking to distribute video content on pen drives that can be player on TVs and I'm trying to ensure that my content is copy-protected. There is a company here in India that is able to do this - (https://www.e-class.in/estore/10th-standard/10th-standard-pen-drive-with-e-box/). Their pendrives only work with the box it comes along with and has an expiry date as well. Can someone help me with what kind of platform this box might be using? And if I was to try and get hold of something like this myself, how could I go about doing that?

I know a couple of copy protect resources for pen drives for Windows exist, but I'm unable to find something that will work with TVs or an android box connected to TVs, for that matter. Many thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
You are entering a battleground.
Apr 14, 2017 8:20AM PDT

I don't want to upset you but if you allow me to play it on a TV over say HDMI (common) we can split that with the splitter and record it with a generic HDMI recorder. Since this is all too easy today, you should copyright your work and stand ready to go legal of those that distribute copies.

If it's played on a PC, it's even easier to record.

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What about using the traditional AV cable?
Apr 14, 2017 1:46PM PDT

Hi,

Thanks for the response. So I have a couple of points -
1. What if I use a traditional AV cable? Like the one in the link above.
2. I understand that an HDMI recorder allows you to copy the video, however its an additional step that anybody looking to copy the video will have to undertake. At present my content is so susceptible to being copied since they are just open mp4 files on a pen drive. So even a software/resource that could prevent someone taking my pen drive, hooking it up to a PC and copy pasting the files will be of great value to me. Is there resource or software that can allow me to at the least protect me from this?

Thanks again.

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Traditonal cable.
Apr 14, 2017 2:44PM PDT

Not protected at all.

As to the extra step, well, I'll be back later to comment more.

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Appreciate
Apr 15, 2017 3:17AM PDT

Thanks. Appreciate you helping out

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Answer
OK, another day.
Apr 15, 2017 9:39AM PDT

I don't want to upset you but this area is a nuclear battleground. So far, not matter what protection you come up with, videos are copied and leak onto the internet.

Mind you but this is more than just opinion here so let me segue into other areas since we know protection against copying is a never ending escalation of "I'll do this, you do that" to break the new protection.

-> Since it's your content, go ahead and watermark it. I know it's awful but your content could have a logo, contact information, web site and more all over it. This way you are getting the message out if it's copied.

The only nearly surefire way to stop copies is to never play them outside of private screenings where you confiscated recording devices going into the show.