Table of contents

+ 01. What is LaserLock?

+ 02. How does LaserLock work?

+ 03. What is the size of the LaserLock signature?

+ 04. What is a physical signature?

+ 05. Where and how is the physical signature applied?

+ 06. Has LaserLock incompatibility issues

+ 07. Is LaserLock available for floppy-discs?

+ 11. Can LaserLock protect Mixed Mode CDs?

+ 12. Does LaserLock support DVD-ROM?

+ 13. What happens when the end user plays a LaserLock disc?
What if it is a copy?

+ 14. Can the end user copy the content of a LaserLock disc to his Hard Disk Drive?

+ 15. Is it possible to copy a LaserLock-protected disc using a CD-R? Would that copy work?

+ 16. Can an end user copy the content of a LaserLock disc over the Internet?

+ 17. Can LaserLock protect Data file?

+ 18. What kind of executable files can LaserLock protect?

+ 19. What happens if the application contains multiple executables? Can LaserLock protect all of them?

+ 20. Can the pre-mastering be done by other than LaserLock?

+ 21. Are there any special requirements for the Mastering House to apply LaserLock?

+ 22. Is LaserLock patented?

+ 23. How do I get technical support?

LaserLock is copy protection system that provides efficient anti-copy security for optical discs (CD-ROM, CD-R and DVD-ROM).

LaserLock uses a combination of encryption software and a unique laser marking of "physical signature" on the optical disc's surface. For CD-ROM and DVD-ROM this is made during the special LaserLock glass mastering procedure in mastering-house, and for CD-R during burning procedure in customers premises.

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LaserLock consists of the following successful combination:

• Sophisticated Code Encryption software
• Physical Signature on optical disc, made during a unique and special glass-mastering process
• State-of-the-Art debug prevention software

LaserLock uses its own proprietary tools to inject the LaserLock code into the executable. As a result of the "injection" process, the executable is encrypted. The LaserLock code that searches for the LaserLock physical signature on the disc, is protected by several layers of debug prevention code, making reverse engineering practically impossible. The physical signature is unique for every application that is being protected.

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The LaserLock for CD-ROM, and CD-R occupies 20MB of disc space, when the LaserLock for DVD-ROM occupies 40MB of disc space

In CD-ROM this size can be reduced down to 5MB in special cases (such as shape CDs or business-card CDs) but we highly recommend the maximum size, which achieves maximum security. In case your application occupies the entire 650 MB capacity of a standard CD-ROM, CD-Rs with bigger capacity (700 MB) can be used for the pre-mastering procedures.

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The LaserLock physical signature is a number of corrupted sectors with hidden good data, created with the development of a custom format on the disc structure that can be identified only by the LaserLock software.

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The physical signature is applied during the mastering process for CD-ROM and DVD-ROM and during the burning process for CD-R.

For the time being the LaserLock module that creates the LaserLock signature for CD-ROM can be installed with encoders from Eclipse and Singulus (ODME/Media Morphics) and the LaserLock module that creates the LaserLock signature for DVD-ROM can be installed with encoder from Eclipse.

During the pre-mastering procedures of CD-ROM or DVD-ROM a new CD-R/DVD-R is produced, which contains the data of the customer's master disc, the protected executable and some files which act as a guideline for the LaserLock physical signature.

Although mastering can take place only at one of the LaserLock Mastering Licensees worldwide, you can press your optical disks at the pressing factory of your preference. LaserLock stampers can be used as standard stampers at every pressing factory.

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LaserLock as a copy protection system was introduced back in 1995. By now it is a mature and robust product having bypassed most of the compatibility issues that surfaced during the first years. The company has also acquired incomparable experience and know-how and is capable, through a very simple troubleshooting process to monitor the behavior of LaserLock, acquire viable information that leads to the identification and bypassing of any incompatibility that might come up in the future.

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LaserLock is no longer available for floppy-discs.

LaserLock for floppy discs was introduced in 1990. The use of this specific medium in the software market has declined so significantly the last few years, so LaserLock focused on optical disc and download technology.

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LaserLock supports standard CD-ROMs, Mixed Mode CDs and generally any format in which the first track is the data track in mode 1. LaserLock pre-mastering and mastering does not affect the data files of the customer. Extensive testing of the pre-master CD-R assures that the behaviour of the pre-master CD-R is the same as the one of the customer's master CD-R.

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LaserLock can protect the PC part of Hybrid CDs. The Mac part cannot be protected.

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LaserLock can protect the PC part of mixed mode CDs. Audio tracks cannot be protected and are not affected by the protection.

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LaserLock supports standard DVD-ROMs (DVD-5), Mixed Mode DVDs and generally any format in which the first track is the data track in mode 1. LaserLock pre-mastering and mastering does not affect the data files of the customer. Extensive testing of the pre-master DVD-R assures that the behaviour of the pre-master DVD-R is the same as the one of the customer's master DVD-R.

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When a user launches an application protected with LaserLock, he must have the original disc inside of the drive of his PC. The LaserLock software verifies the authenticity of the physical signature before the actual application starts. Authentication takes 15-25 seconds depending on the drive. A customized bitmap can be shown during the authentication process that informs the user to wait. If LaserLock identifies the disc inside the drive as an illegal copy, or if there is no disc inside the drive, a customisable text can be shown in a standard windows message-box informing the user to insert the original disc inside his drive.

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The user can copy the contents of a optical disc protected with LaserLock, to his hard disk drive, but he will not be able to run the application without the original disc inside his drive.

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Our latest LaserLock version has been tested under the latest advanced copying software. This includes:

• Nero Burning v.5
• Clone-CD v.3211
• Easy CD Creator v.5
• Win on CD v.5
• CD-R Win v.4
• Adaptec Direct CD v.5
• Blind Read/Write v.3/1
• Packet-CD

The results were extremely positive. Some of these s/w cannot even create a copy CD at all. From those who can do so, the copy has a very unstable behaviour, virtually meaning that it cannot run in almost any CD and DVD drive.

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The user can copy the contents of a disc over the Internet, but he will not be able to run the application without the original disc inside his drive, because the LaserLock physical signature cannot be transferred over the Internet.

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The only way that we could use LaserLock for data protection is if the data were somehow encrypted and there is an executable that decrypts them. In this case we can protect the executable that makes the decryption. So, if someone copies the data files, he can not use them because they are encrypted and if he copies the protected executable it will not work without the LaserLock disc inside his drive.

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LaserLock can protect IA-32 executables (32-bit).

LaserLock is meant to protect the main executable of an application. Should a customer need to protect his setup program, LaserLock could be applied to the setup executable. The customer must keep in mind that in the case he chooses to protect the setup executable the original CD-ROM will only be checked for authentication during the installation process. The customer must also keep in mind that the setup executable should be unique. Otherwise a user could replace the protected -executable with the standard executable of the relative setup utility (Install Shield, Wyse etc)

Last but not least a customer might want to check the authenticity of a LaserLock protected disc not every time the application is launched, but at regular intervals. In that case he must use the implementation method of LaserLock, where a software library is provided to the customer containing LaserLock protection.

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LaserLock can protect multiple executables using the same disc (e.g. The Direct3D and the Glide version of a game). The only restriction is that the executables should not be launched simultaneously. Another case in multiple executables is when a protected executable calls another one. LaserLock can protect both executables, but the delay of the multiple authentication process may be annoying for some users.

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Every customer can ask LaserLock to open an account in the LaserLock on-line tools in order to do the LaserLock pre-mastering in-house. All the LaserLock Mastering Licensees have been trained to use the LaserLock pre-mastering on-line tools.

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The LaserLock module can be installed on any mastering facility with encoder from Eclipse or Singulus (ODME/Media Morphics)

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LaserLock holds an American, an International, and European patens, it also holds patens in countries that are not covered by these patent offices such as Russia, Canada, Bulgaria, China, Australia and Egypt.

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By e-mail: [email protected]

By phone: +30 2310 907222

By fax: +30 2310 937222

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