Remove DRM from blu-ray Digital Copy wmv?

[abw1987]

A few blu-ray movies now come with included "digital copy" discs, like so:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dblu-ray&field-keywords=digital+copy&x=0&y=0

I'm wondering if anyone knows how to break the DRM on these digital copies?

Specifically I am trying to remove the DRM from the digital copy included with The Dark Knight. The "digital copy" actually just a DVD data disc containing two WMV files (one "PC", around 1.4GB, and one "portable", around 700MB). These WMV files are heavily DRMed, and so far I have been wholly unsuccessful in trying to convert these videos to other formats that I might be able to view on my PMP.

Please let me know if this question violates the TOS. However the digital copy is truly from a disc that I purchased, but I can no longer "activate" the WMVs with the included activation code because I recently formatted my computer, and you can only activate each code once.

[Baldrick]

I think it would be easier to rip the blu-ray and convert it to whatever format you like with anydvd and ripbot264.

[jman98]

You can try FairUse4WM, but note that the odds are that you probably won't be able to remove the DRM. FairUse4WM had some early success, but recently it seems to have not been able to keep up with DRM changes made by Microsoft. Most DRMed Windows Media files now require other methods such as simply recording it while it plays with a media catcher program of some kind.

[abw1987]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Baldrick - Unfortunately I don't have a blu-ray drive on my laptop (although I may get a new computer soon, in which case I'd just do as you suggested)

jman - I tried FairUse but am unable to even attempt removing the DRM, as I'd need to have an activated license for the movie stored on my computer. I can't even activate the video since I had activated it in Vista, and lost the license when I upgraded to 7.

[jman98]

jman - I tried FairUse but am unable to even attempt removing the DRM, as I'd need to have an activated license for the movie stored on my computer. I can't even activate the video since I had activated it in Vista, and lost the license when I upgraded to 7.

You did clearly state that in your original post and I read it. Sorry, I forgot as it's been quite a while since I used it, but yes, you do have to have a valid license to have any chance of removing Windows DRM. There is no other way to do it other than FairUse4WM.

Either rent the DVD and copy that or see if you can find a copy on P2P services.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Either rent the DVD and copy that or see if you can find a copy on P2P services.

[abw1987]

I've emailed Warner Brothers to see if they'll de-activate my code so that I can re-activate it, but I doubt they'll heed my request.

I think I'll stay away from P2P. I used to download a lot of media, before I realized it was wrong. Really wrong. (Even though I already bought the movie, that just starts getting into the gray areas of filesharing. Before I know it, I'll be downloading every movie I've ever rented in the past, since "I already rented it once, and could've ripped it then." And then any movie that "I wouldn't have bought anyway.") I suppose I could actually rent the DVD and rip that, but that's sort of the same thing now, isn't it? Plus I would be paying for it again, and that I refuse!

[pnote13]

I would love to find out how to remove the DRM from the Digital Copies. I can't use any of mine because they are all expired. Yes, I did download them long before the expiration date. But According to Universal and WB the digital copies are only good until the expiration date...? This doesn't make any sense since technically we are buying the Digital Copy along with the Blu-Ray/DVD. These studios really don't have a clue why consumers want to make legal digital copies of our own? From what I know most DVD rips run between 1 - 2GB where the digial copies are less than 1GB. This is ideal for storage and back-up. I spent a lot of money setting up a digital media server and boxes to stream the video and music around the house. Now about 25 of my Digital Copies are expired and worthless.

If there is a way I would love to find out!!

[ron spencer]

make your own digital copy from original...the ones they give you are stupid with time limits, etc. complete waste. I throw them out

[jman98]

I would love to find out how to remove the DRM from the Digital Copies.

Guess you didn't pay attention to my previous post in this thread, so I'll try saying it differently for your benefit and the benefit of others who may read this.

There are people who potentially have the knowledge to create something to remove the DRM. Nobody is really interested in doing it. Why?
1) Windows DRM is extremely difficult to crack. So is whatever DRM Apple uses on their iTunes videos (I assume those are in some kind of Quick Time format, but I have never seen one). In the case of Windows, the only hack that has worked to date was the old FairUse4WM program, but it required you to have a valid license. If you had a valid license it could exploit a hole in the DRM to remove the protection. Windows has since patched this flaw, so FairUse4WM rarely works now. In fact, some Windows media like how Netflix streams movies encrypts both the video and the audio separately. This is a devilishly clever idea to encrypt both separately and that just adds to the complexity of cracking it.
2) The reality is that there isn't anything protected by Windows or Apple DRM for video that can't be gotten another way (ie. TV capture, DVD rip, BluRay rip, etc.) so there's no real need to crack them.

I sympathize a little with people like you, but the reality is that you can rip your purchased DVD or BluRay and make your own "digital copy" if you wish. You just have to spend the time to do so. The fact that these digital copies expire are just more proof that Hollywood just doesn't get it.