Man behind DVD copying software AnyDVD sentenced to fine

The maker of the DVD copying software AnyDVD has been ordered to pay a fine of 30,000 dollars, or almost 22,000 euros. Meanwhile, the software maker continues to offer AnyDVD through its website.

Slysoft boss Giancarlo Bettini has been fined $30,000 for violating copyright law on the island of Antigua, Heise reports. The lawsuit was filed on this island in the Caribbean because the maker of AnyDVD has its headquarters there. Bettini has appealed the fine, but is allowed to continue to sell his software in the meantime.

Since the case was brought against Bettini himself, it appears to have little impact on Slysoft’s business. It is unclear whether there will be another case to enforce a sales ban for the AnyDVD software as well.

The lawsuit was filed by the AACS LA, an alliance of tech companies such as IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony and Toshiba, as well as content creators such as Walt Disney and Warner Brothers. The AACS LA has established a standard for DRM, which can be circumvented by copy software. They previously filed a lawsuit against the makers of DVDFab, also copying software. In this lawsuit, a sales ban was pronounced against the software, with which, among other things, the protection of Blu-ray can be circumvented.