DVD Decrypter Comes To an End

7th Jun 2005 09:05 #1

Member

The following post to alt.video.dvd.software:

Hello world,

I"ve got some good news and some bad news.Let's start with the
good.... (tumble weed passes by)Ok, and now onto the bad: DVD Decrypter
3.5.4.0 is the last version you"ll ever see.We hoped this day would never
come, but it has, and I can promise you, nobody is more gutted about it than
I am.

What started as a bit of fun, putting a GUI around some existing code,
turned into something that I can only describe as 'part of me' - yes, I know
that's sad As I"ve recently been made aware (by a letter, hand delivered
to my door, last Tuesday), due to some law that was changed back in October
2003, circumventing copy protection isn"t allowed.

Ok so it has taken a while (almost 2 years), but eventually "a certain
company" has decided they don"t like what I"m doing (circumventing their
protection) and have come at me like a pack of wolves. I"ve no choice but to
cease everything to do with DVD Decrypter.I realise this is going to be one
of those "that sucks - fight them!" kinda things, but at the end of the day,
it"s my life and I"m not about to throw it all away (before it has even
really started) attempting to fight a battle I can"t possibly win.

If 321 Studios can"t do it with millions, what chance do I have with
£50?! As I"m sure most of you have already noticed, the site has been down
for a few days. That surprised me as much as the next person (slight
breakdown in communication), or I would have issued this statement on it
directly.

So anyway, from this point forward, I"m no longer permitted to provide
any sort of assistance with anything that helps people infringe the rights
of "a certain company".That means, no more emails, no more forum posts, no
PM"s, no nothing! END OF STORY.The domain name will be transferred over to
the company by the end of the week (9th June, according to the undertakings
I have to sign) so don"t email it thinking "Oh, I"ll just ask LIGHTNING UK!
for support on this". You"ll not be getting the intended recipient and could
be landing yourself in sh1t!

With 3.5.4.0 being the last version, it makes sense for everyone to
disable the "check for new versions" feature, as obviously there won"t be
any. Of course what I really mean is that you should all stop using the
program out of respect for the company's rights.

Anyone hosting DVD Decrypter is advised to cease doing so immediately.
I"ve the feeling they won"t stop with just me. I"m having to contact anyone
I know of that is (at the very least, the "mirror" sites), and tell them to
stop. Copies of those emails must also be sent to the solicitors so they can
check I"m doing everything I"m supposed to. If I don't, I die.

It is of course down to the owners of those sites to react how they
want to. It"s not my job to force you to do anything you don"t want to, I"m
just giving you some friendly advice. Maybe it"s just me, but I see this as
a bit of an "end of an era". I realise there are other tools, but there"s no
telling how much longer they"ll last, and not only that, mine was the
oldest! I"ve met loads of great people over the years and I want to take
this opportunity to wish them every success for the future - yes DDBT peeps,
that includes you lot! : "(I hope you"ve all enjoyed my contribution to the
DVD scene and maybe I"ll see ya around sometime.

LIGHTNING UK!
(Author of the once "Ultimate DVD Ripper", DVD Decrypter)