Slysoft removes BD+ protection from Blu-ray discs

Hackers associated with Slysoft, the maker of the AnyDVD and CloneDVD applications, have removed BD+, the secondary layer of digital rights management which protects Blu-ray discs.

The BD+ copy protection system was added to the Blu-ray specification by request of film studio Fox.

Blu-ray disks are also protected with AACS digital rights management, which is also used on the rival HD DVD format.

While AACS has been repeatedly hacked, with encryption keys for specific HD DVD titles posted on the net, it is the first time that BD+ has been shown to be vulnerable to hackers.

There is speculation that Slysoft could make a BD-copying program available for sale by the end of the year.