Macrovision Corporation (Nasdaq:MVSN) announced today that Artisan Entertainment Inc. has signed a three-year agreement to copy protect 100% of its DVD releases. In addition, Artisan has options to extend copy protection to VHS titles. Artisan, one of the leading independent entertainment companies, controls a library of more than 6,300 titles that includes well known films such as “The Terminator,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Basic Instinct,” “Dirty Dancing,” “On Golden Pond,” and “The Blair Witch Project.”
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“We are pleased that Artisan has taken this important step to protect all of its DVD releases from unauthorized consumer copying,” said Carol Flaherty, Macrovision’s Vice President of Video Copy Protection. “With over 600 million VCRs installed worldwide, it is easy for consumers to make near-perfect videocassette copies from DVDs. By copy protecting their DVD titles, Artisan is providing retailers a valuable tool in helping to maximize rental and sell through investment without bearing the risk of revenue loss from unauthorized consumer copying.”

Macrovision’s copy protection is designed to prevent unauthorized copying of VHS, DVD and PPV programming to VCRs. Macrovision introduced its DVD copy protection in 1997 and is now utilized on over 75 percent of all video DVDs distributed by MPA studios, as well as corporate, educational, and special interest rights owners. Over 300 million DVDs, 3 billion videocassettes, and 45 million digital set top boxes have utilized Macrovision’s video copy protection technologies.