Playing encrypted DVDs with Xine

[Aaron Gaudio]

On Tue, 2004-07-20 at 22:02 +0100, Jim Higson wrote:
> I've played quite a few DVDs before, but with one I hired today I get the 
> message in Xine (or Kaffeine):
> 
> 	The source seems encrypted, and can't be read.
> 	Your DVD is probably crypted. According to your
> 	country laws (sic), you can or can't install/use libdvdcss
> 	to be able to read this disc, which you bought.
> 	(Media stream scambled/encrypted)
> 
> I have libdvdcss installed, xine is refusinig to use it. 
> 
> This is odd. For a start I don't know how Xine knows what country I live in 
> (the uk) and I think the message was more aimed at people living in the US, 
> where, by my understanding, copyright law favours large companies more.

I think you are misinterpreting the message. It looks like they are not
saying you can't use libdvdcss, they are saying that depending on where
you live, installing and using libdvdcss may be considered illegal. 

I suppose it is possible that xine was compiled to not use libdvdcss,
which would mean it doesn't matter if you have the library installed. If
that's the case, rebuilding xine srpm with libdvdcss-devel installed may
do the trick, or you may have to muck with the srpm for xine to turn on
a switch or something...