321 lookalike punts DVD copy software

A new company trading as the ironically-named "123" appears to be doing exactly what 321 Studios has been stopped from doing by the US courts - offering software for making personal copies of DVDs.

While 321 Studios tries to duke it out in court, claiming that personal copies are enshrined in US law, so that software for getting around copy protection should be legal, 123 Copy DVD instead is trying to be cute and put people in touch with an offshore piece of software that gets around copy protection.

When you go to the 123 site its FAQ sections says: "Why can't I copy a DVD movie? Have you updated 123 Copy DVD by downloading and installing the latest plug-in? If not you can do so here," where the link goes to www.booyakasha.biz.

Booyakasha is a made up word from UK comic Ali G, which is supposed to be an anti-white racist remark in a foreign language. The download is an illegal piece of software that unscrambles encrypted DVDs. The 123 Copy DVD software sells for $19.99 but won’t work on copying DVDs without more software to get around DVD protection.

123 Copy DVD says that the site with the decryption software is unaffiliated with the company, but both domains are administered by the same person at the same company with one registered in Gibraltar and the other in Herndon, Virginia, US. Expect it to be hit with multiple lawsuits any time soon, meanwhile 321 Studios is expected to be back in court in mid-June to see through its challenge to the legality of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.

© Copyright 2004 Faultline

Faultline is published by Rethink Research, a London-based publishing and consulting firm. This weekly newsletter is an assessment of the impact of events that have happened each week in the world of digital media. Faultline is where media meets technology. Subscription details here.

Related stories

DVD X Copy re-issued without ripper
321 Studios to fight ripper injunction
Judge bans DVD X Copy software