AfterDawn: News

321 Studios forced to cut down

The recent legal struggles at 321 Studios have resulted into more than just problems for the company -- nearly 300 people have received the pink slip during the past couple of months.

Both the movie industry and copy protection company Macrovision have won injunctions against 321 Studios' DVD backup software, which has pretty much put the sales of the software on halt. The company is still offering software for burning DVD video, creating DVD slideshows, backing up games and more, but they just were not enough to save the jobs.



According to 321 Studios' Director of Public Relations Julia Bishop-Cross, the company has shrunk from nearly 400 employees down to about 50.

Robert H. Moore, founder and President of the company, has not given up on fighting the rulings. According to him the consumer should have the right to fair-use of the product he or she has purchased -- including circumventing possible copy protections in order to make a backup copy. The controversial DVD X Copy software has several anti-piracy provisions, which makes it impractical to make movie copies for resale.

Good luck to 321 Studios -- and to the American consumer. You can read more about the Protect Fair Use campaign at ProtectFairUse.org.

Source: STLtoday

Written by: Jari Ketola @ 2 Jun 2004 14:55

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• 24 comments

• RedAnt

  It’s not fair that the movie industry and copy protection company like Macrovision get to dictate what we consumers have a right to do with our legally purchased movies. The way I see it is if I purchased it I should have the right to make a backup copy to protect my investment. Call me crazy but that’s the way I see it.

  3.6.2004 05:13 #1

• shogun18

  I for one will never buy another cd or movie again if i will not have right to back that product up. I feel that it is a violation of my personal rights that i am not able to legally back up something i bought. If i was 321 i would just start giving software away to fight back.

  3.6.2004 07:28 #2

• vudoo

  I've said this on zeropaid.com and I will say it again. First of all there are two ways that we cam make all of this legal. First of all we really need to start joining EFF and put some money down to help us all fight against what these bastards are doing. Second we may be able to copy our DVD's or CD's legally if we allow either a small tax on blank media to go towards a fund for the artists and or have Ad-Supportive software that would pay the industry via the ADS it generates via a ad bannar at the bottom of the app. DVD X-Copy could have an ad bannar for Pepsi, Coke, mortgage companies or whatever. Hell on wide screen movies where you have those black bars ads could appear on your Back-Up at the top and bottom of your screen and you could still watch the movie and not interfear with your back up copy. you'd be FREE to do as you will but if you want a non ad supportive version of the content simply Buy another copy. Most people could deal with the ads so long as they have the right to Back up or copy what they purchase. Everyone would be happy as a lark. Another idea would be to have Ad-Supportive DVD's instead of ruining the plannet with these disks you throw out. You can get an Ad-Supportive version of say Lord Of The Rungs with again a bannar at the top and bottom of the movie the whole time it plays. Just think of how many DVD's you'd by for $1/disk. And the MPAA would be happy as a lark since everyone makes money and the consummer would save money and there would be no need to PIRATE anything in the first place. But that makes too much sence so they won't go for it. Someday people will see it my way.

  3.6.2004 10:14 #3

• socrates9

  When I watch a movie I really don't wanna see a Coke sign above or below it. But that's just me! I'm sure we can come up with better ideas!

  4.6.2004 13:28 #4

• johnhotze

  They may have one this battle, but they know, they will lose the war. Backup(copy) protection, henders but it never stops. It's human nature to pioneer, discover, and overcome obsticles. Always has been and always will be.

  7.6.2004 05:55 #5

• Dragonegg

  i feel that the film industry is monopolising the audio/visual world by stopping buyers of DVD XCopy Products making back-up copy of brought products (which at the end of the day, you purchase an item, it becomes your property), personally i shall carry on using my XCopy Express and dont give a S..T want the big corparations think they can do to stop me.
  321 is right to carry the fight onto the bitter end and i for one would continue to give my full support.
  Human rights, fair use, freedom of speech are not just words to banter with, they hold a lot of meaning.
  carry on the good work, persistance will prevail......

  9.6.2004 00:13 #6

• Zeb

  If the movie Studio's Suceed in taking down 321 Studios & the rest of the DVD software copy makers. I suggest they give the movie industry a Poison Pill to swallow... Release the DVD X Copy activation code software onto the internet as they walk out the door & turn off the lights....this would turn it into Freeware! Let the movie industry try & stop it then!
  Quite possibly the only way to make them regret tampering with free enterprise.

  12.6.2004 21:01 #7

• buzzoon

  wrt the 3-2-1 issue, it's not about free enterprise ...

  14.6.2004 12:53 #8

• vudoo

  Well in a Laughable that in a way it is. The RIAA/MPAA is trying to take over everything and that is the natural fact. Now they are corrupting government officials and the like with bribes and pay offs. And even the RIAA has been in the sights of investegation. What this will boil down to is a full investegation of copyright as it is and how it could be in the future. The Law does protect against a monopoly. If the MPAA is the only organization that is distributing Video or makes it so that commercial movies has to be traded through them only that makes them a monopoly. Its going to take awhile before this is hashed in a court of law but I believe that day will come.

  14.6.2004 15:20 #9

• buzzoon

  When the law shuts down an illegal operator, regardless of how s/he "feels" about that law, it has nothing to do with free enterprise. What the lawbreaker should have done in this case is lobby to get the law changed (what we are all trying to do) before he went ahead and blatantly broke it. His actions have hurt us all in our quest...

  15.6.2004 04:59 #10

• rickpant

  I would not care about any of this backing up stuff if the Movie Studio’s would simply agree that they will replace, at no charge, and they even will pay the shipping and handling, to every customer which has any bad VHS, CD’s or DVD’s.
  
  I don't really understand what the fuss is all about.
  I feel since the Movie Studios will not replace my bad VHS or DVD then I should have the right to protect my investment of their product.
  
  Why don’t the Movies Studios allow us to exchange our bad movies for GOOD working VHS or DVD’s? Why do I have to purchase the movie again at full retail price? Didn’t we already pay the royalties the first time?
  
  Since the Movie Studios are not willing to replace the bad VHS’s or DVD’s, don’t I have the right to make a backup copy of it? What is the confusion here? As long as the Movie Studio's do not agree to do this, I will MAKE BACKUP Copies of EVERYTHING I OWN!
  
  The Studio’s are convicting everyone before anyone has had the chance to commit the crime of selling their backup copies as the real thing.
  
  Can we trust the corporate warranties? Can they be trusted? Example; A neighborhood video store (A National Chain) sold me 100’s of movies with a lifetime replacement on their previously viewed VHS’s. The video store has updated their warranty policies over the years, making all the movies I purchased with NO warranty at all.
  
  Don’t I have the right to protect my investment since the Movie Studios and retail outlets don’t? I believe I do. They have lied to me and I’m sure they will lie again. If the people are permitted to backup the purchased items, then the responsibility falls on the people not the BIG corporations!
  
  I disagree with Vudoo, (Member below), Why should we pay anymore TAXES and get more brain washed from ADS flashing at us? I’m tied of seeing movie ads during a show on Cable TV which I pay for. I tired of seeing the news flash across the bottom of the screen on TV when I’m trying to watch a show. So why would I want an AD flashing at me while I’m trying to watch a movie I paid for? I’m an Artist and I don’t need a fund to support me.
  
  I my opinion, all the movie studios need to do is, back their product with a replace warranty, which will stop the need for anyone to copy anything. We all know they won’t do that, so Lets get coping!
  
  Has anyone giving it any thought to write a program with a OPEN source programming to copy these things? Let’s see them stop that. Microsoft is losing to Linux. Hint Hint!
  
  321 Studio should simply remove the registration and activation to the program and set it free on the internet since they are not allowed to sell it, but can they give it away?.
  321 Studio may lose, but the people will win. I’m sure someone out there can write a crack to over ride the activation. I know the movie studios will really lose then. I’ll be more than happy to host the crack on my web server.
  I Own a Copy of DVD-X Copy and support 321
  
  
  
  
  
  I would not care about any of this backing up stuff if the Movie Studio’s would simply agree that they will replace, at no charge, and they even will pay the shipping and handling, to every customer which has any bad VHS, CD’s or DVD’s.
  
  Since the Movie Studios will not replace my bad VHS or DVD then I should have the right to protect my investment of their product.
  
  Why don’t the Movies Studios allow us to exchange our bad movies for GOOD working VHS or DVD’s? Why do I have to purchase the movie again at full retail price? Didn’t we already pay the royalties the first time?
  
  Since I don’t have a Replace Warranty, I have no choice but to MAKE BACKUP Copies of EVERYTHING I OWN!
  
  The Studio’s are convicting everyone before anyone has had the chance to commit the crime of selling their backup copies as the real thing.
  
  Can we trust the corporate warranties? Can they be trusted?
  Example; A neighborhood video store (A National Chain) sold me 100’s of movies with a lifetime replacement on their previously viewed VHS’s. The video store has updated their warranty policies over the years, making all the movies I purchased with NO warranty at all.
  
  Don’t I have the right to protect my investment since the Movie Studios and retail outlets don’t? They have lied to me and I’m sure they will lie again. If the people are permitted to backup the purchased items, then the responsibility falls on the people not the BIG corporations!
  
  I disagree with Vudoo, (Member below), Why should we pay anymore TAXES and get more brain washed from ADS flashing at us? I’m tied of seeing movie ads during a show on Cable TV which I pay for. I tired of seeing the news flash across the bottom of the screen on TV when I’m trying to watch a show. So why would I want an AD flashing at me while I’m trying to watch a movie I paid for? I’m an Artist and I don’t need a fund to support me.
  
  In my opinion, the movie studios need to back their product with a replace warranty, which will stop the need for anyone to copy anything.
  We all know they won’t do that, so Lets get coping!
  
  Has anyone giving it any thought to write a program with a OPEN source to copy these things? Let’s see them stop that. Microsoft is losing to Linux. Hint! Hint!
  
  321 Studio should simply remove the registration and activation to the program and set it free on the internet since they are not allowed to sell it, but can they give it away?.
  321 Studio may lose, but the people will win. I’m sure someone out there can write a crack to over ride the activation. I know the movie studios will really lose then. I’ll be more than happy to host the crack on my web server.
  
  I own a copy of DVD-X Copy Plat Edition and support 321 Studio.

  7.7.2004 01:32 #11

• vudoo

  Well I believe that if we all march the capital in Washington DC and demand that we get a new DVD/CD if the original gets damaged or if the technoloty changes. So say if DVD's are no longer manufactured and a new format say a chip that holds 1,000 terobytes of data on a chip. So if that happens they should replace all of our originals. This will be very costly for the MPAA/RIAA in the long run. So if they don't allow copying they should be forced to replace period. You have the right to copy your car/house keys so therefore why not the DVD's and CD's.

  17.7.2004 13:52 #12

• vudoo

  @rickpant:
  
  I have a crack for DVD Xcopy Express the latest edition because I bought it and now I had to buy a whole new mother bord and computer case because I fried the old one. Unfortunately it happened after 321 was ordered to shut down the CSS coded version of the DVD Xcopy products. Join Earthreactor and I could E-Mail it to you since it is in Palistine and has a proxy so that my IP will never be found. You can send 150MB files there without fear of someone watching what you send. So again the MPAA/RIAA loses again ha ha.

  17.7.2004 14:03 #13

• buzzoon

  Free replacement of a DVD if the original is defective sounds reasonable. Free replacement of a DVD because your kid broke it, you left it in your car and it got stolen, or you played it so much it wore out does not sound reasonable.
  
  Where do you draw the line? Could create a whole net set of very biased laws :(

  17.7.2004 16:04 #14

• Joelynn3

  Yes I realy hate this, I spent alot of money on these programs, I miss out the lated upgrade because I was out of town, and I can't download any my software on line. isn't there any suport on the program you allredy own without buying more?

  25.10.2004 16:13 #15

• vudoo

  You brought up a valid point. I bought some music on napster. What would happen if Napster goes out of business and I have to re format my OS because of some corrupt file. I must have bought $70 worth of music on that service. Yea call me stupid and I would have had except that I was tired of Downloading classic and Alternative rock stuff only to find that it was the short version of the song and not the Album version. Also when you buy an Anti virus program you only get 1 yr of updates. Now that is definately an oxy moron. We buy a anti virus program because we want to be protected. But what is the point if we have to buy it again and re Download the latest difinitions?

  25.10.2004 16:28 #16

• Joelynn3

  Yes I own all the 321 DVD COPY, where do you get the support now? they still have it out there on the market, for a price, no support, I can't download it anymore. atleast I can't find it. I lost a lots of money on these sofewares.

  25.10.2004 18:27 #17

• vudoo

  My suggestion is to Purchase AnyDVD and then you can download DVD Shrink for free. It does way more than DVD Xcopy does and its FREE. The Any DVD is a copy protection eliminator program. It allows any DVD copier to copy the DVD or should I say one that shrinks a DVD-9 disk to a DVD-R or RW disc. It will work very well.

  25.10.2004 18:54 #18

• Joelynn3

  Thanks for the info.I'I'll try that.

  26.10.2004 17:10 #19

• vudoo

  We're all in for a very unpleasent 4 yrs cuz Kerry lost and Bush won. Too many damn Christians who are uneducated about the real issues that Bush starts his false links to terrorism about. Your rights will be gone in less than 4 yrs.

  3.11.2004 10:51 #20

• puff2345

  new company selling 321 products.
  http://www.dvdxcopy-international.com/

  4.11.2004 12:04 #21

• kens2000

  I have been trying to get INFO on DVD-X Copy Platinum
  that i bought on E-Bay (Bad Move on my part) it has a license ID and a Password but i am unable to activate it. It looks like the Feds have band this software and the 321 Studios web site. So its looks like i am SOL on this one yes i am a newbie at this Thanks for any INFO on how this should have worked.

  6.11.2004 13:01 #22

• vudoo

  OK well I can tell you to google for a crack. It is easy to do and you'll find a crack for it. Just copy the crack from the folder after unzipping it and paste it to the program folder where the prog is installed. I have my program that I bought cracked for the same reason. This is why software activation should never be allowed. If the company goes out of business your out of luck.

  20.11.2004 22:51 #23

• mrod12

  I am an owner of 321's DVD XCopy Gold. After I reformatted my hard drive I was also left with no way of re-activating my copy of DVD XCopy Gold.
  Fortunately (VERY fortunately) I found
  www.dvdxcopy-international.com. They came to my rescue and I am now up and running fine, thank you very much!
  Please pass this around to those unfortunate souls who are also without activation for their 321 DVD software.

  23.11.2004 13:15 #24