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?
+ 09. What CD-ROM format does LaserLock support?
+ 10. Can LaserLock protect Hybrid CDs?
+ 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?
What is LaserLock?
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.
^ Back to top
How does LaserLock work?
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.
^ Back to top
What is the size of the LaserLock signature?
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.
^ Back to top
What is a physical signature?
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.
^ Back to top
Where and how is the physical signature applied?
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.
^ Back to top
Has LaserLock incompatibility issues 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.
^ Back to top
Is LaserLock available for floppy-discs?
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.
^ Back to top
What CD-ROM format does LaserLock support?
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.
^ Back to top
Can LaserLock protect Hybrid CDs?
LaserLock can protect the PC part of Hybrid CDs. The Mac part cannot be protected.
^ Back to top
Can LaserLock protect Mixed Mode CDs?
LaserLock can protect the PC part of mixed mode CDs. Audio tracks cannot be protected and are not affected by the protection.
^ Back to top
Does LaserLock support DVD-ROM?
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.
^ Back to top
What happens when the end user plays a LaserLock disc?
What if it is a copy?
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.
^ Back to top
Can the end user copy the content of a LaserLock disc to his Hard Disk Drive?
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.
^ Back to top
Is it possible to copy a LaserLock-protected disc using a CD-R? Would that copy work? 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.
^ Back to top
Can an end user copy the content of a LaserLock disc over the Internet?
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.
^ Back to top
Can LaserLock protect Data file?
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.
^ Back to top
What kind of executable files can LaserLock protect? 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.
^ Back to top
What happens if the application contains multiple executables? Can LaserLock protect all of them? 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.
^ Back to top
Can the pre-mastering be done by other than LaserLock? 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.
^ Back to top
Are there any special requirements for the Mastering House to apply LaserLock?
The LaserLock module can be installed on any mastering facility with encoder from Eclipse or Singulus (ODME/Media Morphics)
^ Back to top
Is LaserLock patented? 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.
^ Back to top How do I get technical support? By e-mail: [email protected]
By phone: +30 2310 907222
By fax: +30 2310 937222
^ Back to top
|