Herong's Tutorial Notes on CD/DVD
Dr. Herong Yang, Version 2.14

Copying VOB Files - Copy Protection Error

This section describes what would happen if you try to copy VOB files from a movie DVD to hard disc.

On a movie DVD disc, movie video segments are stored as VOB files in the VIDEO_TS directory on the disc. So can we copy those VOB files to the hard disc and play them later?

The answer is no. This is because VOB files on most DVD discs are protected some anti-ripping encryptions.

I tried to copy files from a movie DVD "Big Fish" in a command window and got these errors:

C:\>copy D:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.* C:\temp

d:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.IFO
d:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.VOB
Copy Protection Error 
   - The read failed because the sector is encrypted.
d:\VIDEO_TS\VIDEO_TS.BUP
        2 file(s) copied.

C:\>copy d:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_*.* C:\temp

d:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_0.IFO
d:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_0.VOB
Error performing inpage operation.
d:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.VOB
Copy Protection Error 
  - The read failed because the sector is encrypted.
d:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_0.BUP
        2 file(s) copied.

Many movie DVD discs use Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption stop anyone rip off (copy) its contents from the DVD disc. However, CSS encryption has been broken. There are many software on the Internet that implement De-CSS algorithm to rip off movie files of DVD discs.

Sections in This Chapter

What Is DVD?

What Is DVD-Video?

DVD Video (Movie) File Directory Structure

"Big Fish" - Movie DVD File Directory

Playing Movie DVD with Windows Media Player

Copying VOB Files - Copy Protection Error

Dr. Herong Yang, updated in 2007
Copying VOB Files - Copy Protection Error