Xing is also the company whose
software-based DVD player contained the
CSS decryption key in
unencrypted format. As a result, a group of
code hackers in
Europe (
Masters of Reverse Engineering) were able to create
DeCSS in its first
incarnation -- a program allowing for the
decryption of DVDs.
The reason why this is important is it has created an enormous
trial regarding the legality of
DeCSS and has thrust the
MPAA's practices, the future of
computer programming, the future of
personal freedom, and
the future of copyright into the spotlight.
Thanks to
shoddy programming practices at
Xing (whose
DVD player is now a
part of history, only), many
Linux users will, hopefully, be able to play
DVD movies that they own on their
operating system of choice.
A note to those who wonder why
DeCSS was made as a
Windows executable if it's supposed to let
Linux users play movies:
Linux at the time didn't have the ability to read the
UDF format used on DVDs--they simply wouldn't be readable, period. Go into
Windows,
decrypt the movie to the drive, go back to
Linux, pow,
problem solved.