Consumers can now legally record content in their own homes including movies offered by the content owners. They can also obtain special content that is now unavailable on DVDs, since the existing demand does not economically allow the mass reproduction. This news, in a recent announcement on September 19, 2007 by the DVD Copy Control Association (DVDCCA), was the final approval of a copy-protection specification for on-demand disc burning.

Final approval of the copy-protection specification, which is called Content Scramble System (CSS), was authorized by DVD CCA members. An industry copy prevention organization, the DVD CCA's approval authorizes companies to sell digital downloads for on demand viewing.

In a move that could dramatically change the way movies are sold, the ruling also allows consumers to download the content and burn it to a physical DVD. This way, movies bought over the Internet can now be burned onto a DVD that can play on any machine, anytime, anywhere.

Known as the Content Scramble System (CSS), a copy protection used on most commercially produced DVD, vendors can now create protected DVDs in custom runs at new on-demand factories or on store-based kiosks.

There are companies now offering On Demand Production enabling customers to create, publish and deliver custom content for DVD and CD distribution worldwide.

"Interestingly, nobody thought about the fact that some day there would be something called the Internet where people could download content back when DVDs were invented twenty years ago," said Raj Barman, president and chief executive officer of Acutrack, Inc.

The problem is that consumers still need a fast Internet connection, a DVD burner and DVD discs, plus they would have to hand write the title onto the disk.

On Demand engines are able to download content from a distributor's site and produce a physical DVD with a professional retail printing, then package and mail it as soon as the consumer requests a physical DVD. This gives customers the ability to produce and ship custom packaged CDs or DVDs one at a time. Ideal for customer's who are selling downloadable content, On Demand Production allows manufacturing of CDs and DVDs on an as needed basis, eliminating the up-front costs of producing multiple titles normally associated with CD/DVD production.

Standard DVD players are hardwired with the keys to unlock the digital security system built into pre-recorded DVDs, but DVD burners on computers and writeable DVD discs don't contain the locks.

CSS was devised for this purpose to make copyright infringement difficult. The process will use special blank DVD discs with CSS encryption. The copies will be compatible with DVD players in homes and businesses today.

The DVD CCA is responsible for making sure that all parties have agreed to standards allowing the digital locks to be included in a downloaded movie file and then transferred to a protected DVD to work on current players.