Australia: Stomping out piracy

Village Roadshow is rolling out a new antipiracy solution beginning with Stan's Romper Stomper.

Despite it not being the Libertalian piracy capital it's often purported to be, Australians still don't mind plundering out of reach digital content from the depths of the internet if they feel like they've been given a bum deal.

In the ongoing battle to sink the unsinkable, Roadshow Films ( a division of Village Roadshow) is trialling new antipiracy software, courtesy of Linius Tech. Roadshow's 12-month deal with Linius will begin with the release of Stan's upcoming TV sequel/adaptation of Romper Stomper (1991).

Linius' technology, known as the Video Virtualisation Engine (VVE), allows digital rights holders like Roadshow to manipulate video files with security features, like viewing rights and payment gateways.

Traditionally, video files are totally self-contained. When you click play on Netflix or Stan, a code is sent to the server to request the impenetrable video file in its entirety. VVE busts the video date free from its rigid prison, exposing and indexing the data from the video file. When the video is requested from the streaming platform, the data is deconstructed in transit and put back together when it arrives the verified player (e.g. Stan).

IBM is helping integrate the technology which is already being implemented in pre-production.

The idea is that pirates won't actually have anything to steal as the video file won't be constructed until it reaches its destination.

Blow me down. What does that mean for me, an honest, God-fearing Stan subscriber? Well, it won't impact you in any way whatsoever. You'll still hit play and have Romper Stomper instantaneously streamed to your television.