With a massive installed user base of windows pcs, the powers that be have decided (but not told anyone yet) that there will be no DVD playback software on the machines....

a fantastic choice when we have at least 50 dvd's of video learning materials that staff want to borrow and preview, as well as bringing in old recorded tv shows for transfer from VHS to DVD (permissable under ERA).

Ordinarily, we've recommended VLC, but now central IT are informing people who go to them (as opposed to us locally) that use of VLC is illegal and will result in disciplinary action or stronger, as VLC uses libdvdcss (which contravenes EU copyright directives & the UK copyright regulations circa 2003...apparently).

...so any ideas on a free, widely distributable dvd decoder package for windows?

Not free, but if you can convince them to buy a lot of Nero DVD writing software I think that still comes with a DVD decoder and playback suite

If they are not permitted to have VLC, then they will need to stump up for a dvd codec.

This may be useful to convince them with :

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/downloads/windows-media-player/plug-ins

Edited 24 March, 201115 yr by cheezemonkhai

We used to get the Nero suite with all the pc's when we were with RM.

Now it's all through viglen with a "managed service" and "standard image", we get diddly squat.

"we have a limited number of licenses for PowerDVD....how many machines are you thinking might need it?"

:think:....75 teaching staff.....i wonder how many might need it....

and apparently, we can't be trusted to install it....after 11 years

try one of these.

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/the-best-media-player-for-performance-2011-683569

Unfortunately it only takes one person to misuse a piece of corporate IT kit and everyone must suffer. Remember the first company to be sued for liable over an email sent using it's IT systems or the first person to introduce a virus into a corporate network by bringing something in from home?

With a more blame orientated and less personal responsibility focussed culture more draconian IT policies are just the way of things these days :(

With a more blame orientated and less personal responsibility focussed culture more draconian IT policies are just the way of things these days :(

Is it really the IT departments fault though?

Nobody ever reads the licensing agreement on software, most of which will state using software in a company means paying licensing fees.

I know our company does regular software audits, and anything that isn't correctly licensed will be immediately uninstalled, and you will end up with a slapped wrist.

There are various freeware windows versions of the unix-based mplayer, e.g. SMPlayer and UMPlayer.

Legally I guess that any freeware player that can handle css-encrypted DVDs belongs to a twilight zone...