Dargie imports anti-piracy DVD hardware

PETER MADIYA
Correspondent | Wednesday March 3, 2010 00:00

For a long time piracy has been rampant, more especially on locally produced DVDS making it very difficult for artists to reap their rewards from sales. The Copy Right Society of Botswana (COSBOTS) seems to have failed to put foolproof measure in place to curb piracy save for a shiny hologram, which serves as a mere decoration instead of being a protective device. The hologram, which has left many artists bankrupt, only serves as a licence to sell products in local musical outlets rather than combating piracy. Despite its shiny and good-looking appearance, a DVD or CD with a hologram can easily be duplicated without much ado whatsoever. Dargie Digital Studios of Gaborone have started using the hardware, which they ordered from Rinage Company of the US.

According to director Robert Dargie, he decided to order the equipment because his business was suffering. The hardware, which comprises a dual set, has an imbedded PC inside. If one loads a master DVD into the hardware, the data from the master CD will be loaded into the system. Dargie explained that once the data is loaded, a password is then created at the beginning and end of the material. By creating passwords on the loaded data, a new master copy of the DVD, which cannot be cracked, is created. 'For a pirate to have access to the protected DVD, he or she would need those two imbedded codes to write the DVD from any computer. Moreover, when a disc is loaded to be written, the computer will not even request a password, instead it will jump the copying system and refuse to respond,' Dargie proudly said. The good news about the hardware lies in the fact that it does not affect playback of the DVD. After creating the new master copy, the hardware is then connected to its twin system, which would then print the required number of DVDs, which cannot be pirated. 'The system is pretty fast too as it can print more than a thousand DVD a day. After realising that the hologram was not so effective, I ordered the hardware and started building it until I came up with a measure, which cannot be cracked by anybody,' he added.Asked whether the hardware came with the protective devices, Dargie explained that he actually had to improvise.

'I have even given the company from where I purchased the hardware some feedback on how their machine can be further used without any flaws,' he said. Moreover, he said that the system works together with Internet and it is the first of its kind in the country and South Africa where a company called CDT has started using it. So far, the imbedded device, has been used in Maxy's short drama, Culture Spears' reload of Chika dance. As a parting shot, Dargie said that it is only sensible to invest in a hardware, which will help stop piracy on locally-produced items. 'Now I can rest in the happy knowledge that my artists' products are safe from music pirates who are normally left to do as they please.  Currently, I am busy coming up with a measure to curb CD piracy. I started with the DVD because it is the one, which is duplicated at a higher rate,' he said. (Sila Press Agency)