FixVTS and Menushrink stopped

[Baldrick]

Two more dvd tools that have been stopped. The creator can't give any more information but I think I can guess who would like to stop them...even if they aren't directly any dvd rippers.

[cd090580]

The RIAA ??

[MOVIEGEEK]

Thanks for the memories jeanl.

[hech54]

Freaking gutted about FixVTS. That was one of the best tools to come about in the past few years IMO.

[somebodeez]

This is soooooo sad

[Denvers Dawgs]

Why don't they just kill my dog while they're at it?

[vico1]

JEEEEEZ...Man that's sad news...

[BJ_M]

just going to make more people download movies instead of legal buying them imo

what a load of crap

[Marvingj]

Seems like every one in RIAA is going crazy......

[ntscuser]

If FixVTS is no longer updated, I assume RipIt4Me is also screwed?

[gll99]

If it is Cr@ppovision and/or the M.P. ASS. of A., I hope at least it was a buyout They would be stretching the point and would lose a critical court case if this thing ever got that far. I don't blame the author for buckling in. Unless lawyers are willing to take this kind of case for a share of the profits from the counter-suit and you have deep pocketed backers to pay possible judgements it's hard for the average person to fight false claims.

[guns1inger]

On what grounds ?

Neither of these programs directly break dvd copy protection themselves or contain infringing code. Killing these is like banning spanners because someone *might* hit some else over the head with one and rob them.

if they can get away with stopping development of these two tools, then many more (which I won't list here in case it gives them a hint) will soon be in the firing line.

[ntscuser]

Unless lawyers are willing to take this kind of case for a share of the profits from the counter-suit and you have deep pocketed backers to pay possible judgements it's hard for the average person to fight false claims.

Having followed the details of such cases in another forum, I can tell you this won't happen. US judges seem to have one set of evidence rules for the **AA and completely different set of evidence rules for their opponents. Judges have even contradicted their own previous rulings, probably as a result of pressure from someone above.

[BJ_M]

it's ok for an insane nutcase to buy a gun but heaven forbid to make a copy of your own dvd

[Ghostmaker]

The source code is still around. Maybe a nice programmer may adopt it.

[lordsmurf]

FixVTS has uses beyond piracy, as did DVD Decrypter. Shutting out software is getting to be ridiculous.

[Noahtuck]

Wonder when they are gonna go after **********

Not gonna say..... No one else has mentioned it so....

What guns1inger stated 8)
No sense in giving them any idea's..... but for #$%@ sake

It must be really pissing them off if they can't get to two of the other big well known program's for backing up dvd's

I also find it funny that these "People/Companys" who are going after fixvts, ripit4me, ect. are wanting no one to talk about it and reveal who they are
If they feel they are in the right what do they have to hide ?
Maybe they don't want it to be widely known for fear of consumer backlash ?

[gll99]

If it's Cr@ppovision and/or the M.P. ASS. of A, they could also have a CRONY pushing them in the back. I can't think of their name right now but they oozed over from ARCOSS the ocean to the American continent west coast. I can't recall the name but it sounds like baloney or phony or something like that. I'll let you know if I remember it.

[NiteLite]

To the creators of FixVTS, Thanks. It was a nice tool that I found later in the game but used a lot.
Probably a simple threat letter from a lawyer put a halt to both.
NL

[mats.hogberg]

Again, they go for the freeware, while letting commercial applications/applications distributed for free but created by a company go. It's easier to scare an individual into submission than a company?

/Mats

[offline]

Madness..just madness. And it is getting worse all over.

News.com.au is reporting that the ARIA [Australia's Version of the RIAA] is making plans to have ISPs cancel or terminate the accounts of those who download music illegally. If the user is on dialup, that's not a problem: their telephone line will be disconnected. 'Fed up with falling sales, the industry — which claims Australians download more than one billion songs illegally each year — has been discussing tough new guidelines with internet service providers (ISPs) since late last year. The music industry is lobbying for a three strikes and you're out policy to enforce their copyright. Under this system, people who illegally download songs would be given three written warnings by their Internet service provider. If they continued to illegally download songs, their internet account would be suspended or terminated.

[ntscuser]

FixVTS has uses beyond piracy, as did DVD Decrypter. Shutting out software is getting to be ridiculous.

My thoughts exactly. I use FixVTS to scan home-authored DVD's for errors. A friend uses DVD Decrypter solely to duplicate DVD's he has authored himself. He has never ripped a commercial DVD in his life. Whose copyright are we infringing?

[guns1inger]

It's not that you have, but that you could. Can't you see that ? Just having the tools means you are a potential movie pirate, and your potential piracy could potentially rob the movie industry of the potentially billions of dollars they won't earn because you might potentially not pay for your movies at some point in the future, potentially.

[hech54]

FixVTS and DVDDecrypter are already "out there" on people's computers...it won't stop anyone from still using them for "legal" purposes like cleaning up DVD Recorder discs(FixVTS) and specialized demuxing or customized rips of non-protected DVDs(DVDDecrypter). Both were and are still free so giving FixVTS a shot at a project in the future will not cost us anything. Whoever nixed FixVTS can go F**K themselves...I'll still be using it.
Now if you'll excuse me....I need to fire up DVDDecrypter and demux the audio from chapters(songs) 11 and 12 from this here DVD that I bought and paid for so I can convert the AC3 audio to MP3 or even .wav so I can enjoy the music that I bought and paid for on my computer, car stereo, or wherever my little heart desires.

[rkr1958]

Was the source code for FixVTS open source?

[a2j3]

I don't think I'm allowed to say what I actually think about them removing fixvts, but In my opinion jeanl ur an awesome dude...

[mats.hogberg]

Was the source code for FixVTS open source?

If this line of action is to be a common procedure, maybe releasing this kind of tools as open source is the way to fight back. They can never quench an open source project.

/Mats

[ntscuser]

How long before PGCedit is targetted?

That would be like losing a limb for many of us

[jman98]

Was the source code for FixVTS open source?

If this line of action is to be a common procedure, maybe releasing this kind of tools as open source is the way to fight back. They can never quench an open source project.

/Mats

I'd like to second Mats comment. Doom9 himself has offered to maintain the source code securely to any freeware applications like these so that if something like this happens in the future, the source code will still be available. Go http://www.doom9.net and read his comments for April 10, 2007.

[somebodeez]

Was the source code for FixVTS open source?

If this line of action is to be a common procedure, maybe releasing this kind of tools as open source is the way to fight back. They can never quench an open source project.

/Mats

Yes, FixVTS is open source.

This line of thought was suggested when "they" took down DVDDecrypter.
I wonder why it wasn't heeded for RI4M?

And what's up w/the gag orders?
What are "they" hiding?