SlySoft, Inc. is a company based in Antigua and famous for their AnyDVD software that bypasses the copy protection techniques used on DVDs. Due to their offshore location they have been able to offer these products commercially on the Internet. Today they have made a very bold move to announce a HD-DVD edition of AnyDVD, which is able to bypass the AACS copy protection used on HD-DVD movie titles. Never before there has been commercially produced solution for circumventing a new generation of copy protections and media so quickly after the new format has been launched. This development really questions the usefulness of copy protection schemes in general - what is a restriction for others, is a business for some.

After a Beta test-phase of a mere ten days, conducted by a few chosen scene gurus, SlySoft announced the first official releaseof AnyDVD HD.

The change-log, although not so significant at first glance, abounds in understatement:

• New: added HD DVD and AACS support (registered users need an upgrade key for HD DVD & AACS support)
• New: added support for new versions of SONY’s Arccos protection to the option "Remove Protection based on unreadable Sectors"
• Added AnyDVD HD Ripper
• Fixed: Problem with multi-angle titles and Sony Arccos protection
• Some minor fixes and improvements
• Updated languages

At first look, the mention of "Added HD DVD and AACS Support" appears rather "so-so" but behind this annoucement exists a real revolution. For the first time, it is possible for the average user to get around the previously uncrackable AACS copy protection of the new HD-DVD generation with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

Officially, the film industry and the AACS consortium is, of course, not very happy about this development. However, behind closed doors, they are likely pleased to have learned from past experiences with the CD and DVD that the users are now finally able to make unlimited use of this new medium HD DVD, i.e to enjoy his "fair-use rights". It is expected that a real "boom" will occur with HD-DVDs.

Source: SlySoft