Copy-Paste VOB files is possible, does it mean there is no protection?

[FLM]

Hi everyone,

I have a collection of commercial dvds that I bought and I want to back them up on my HDD for viewing on a media streamer (I own a Xtreamer).
I know that I have to use a DVD Decrypter in order to do so because VOB files can't be copied to the HDD using simple copy-paste option using windows explorer.

My question is: if copy-paste IS possible (and it is, on those dvds I own) and the vob files are copied to the HDD does that mean there is no protection whatsoever? if so, how is it possible since these are commercial DVDs? the production company can't afford the protection?

I read years ago (emphasis on years) that if you copy-paste a vob file and don't use a dvd ripper/decrypter SW, there is a possibilty of unexpected playback errors and degradation in video quality. Is this true?

Thanks a lot in advance for your comments :)

[Ghitulescu]

Commercial doesn't automatically mean copy-protected.
Lots of small size companies launch non-CSS versions of DVDs, their profit margin is anyway so small that even the CSS licence is a burden, plus CSS alone does not guarantee that the DVD is copy protected (just have a look in this subforum (http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=9) to see why).

[yetanotherid]

Personally I wouldn't bother messing with copying and pasting or trying to determine if a DVD is copy protected or not. I've never actually tested it, but I'd wonder if simply copying the contents of a non-copy protected DVD would be any faster than ripping it. I kind of doubt it as I suspect either way the files are either going to copy or rip as fast as the drive can read.

Myself, I use RipIt4Me. It requires DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink to be installed. If you're not interested in copying all the crud and want to copy over just the movie, for example (and maybe bypass the FBI warnings etc), RipIt4Me should make it easy.

I can't actually answer you're question as to whether it's possible to simply copy and paste the files from a copy protected DVD, if i ever tried it, it was a long time ago. I suspect you probably can't and even if you could I imagine they'd be unplayable.

[FLM]

Thanks for your answers...

I've done a little checking:
I installed the final version of DVD Decrypter and it said the DVDs aren't copy-protected. I copied a VOB file using regual copy-paste (I have TeraCopy (http://www.codesector.com/teracopy.php) Installed) and the transfer was 60% slower than when using DVD Decrypter. I have a Samsung SH-223F DVD-RW drive in my PC...

so, by simply installing a decrypter I now know that if vob files can be copy-pasted, then the disc is not protected. I just wanted to verify with you all if there won't be any unexpected problems. but since dvd-decrypter is faster, I'll be using that any way, protected or not.

Thank you again for your replies ... :)