GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 580396
Test if libdvdcss2 is present
Last modified: 2018-05-24 10:33:31 UTC
When users launch totem on a dvd, totem report badly the problem. Please have a look at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libgimme-codec/+bug/137527 When you launch totem on a dvd, totem should test if it's encrypted, and if necessary packages are installed (libdvdread/libdvdcss2). If not, totem should report it to users and tell him that he needs to install a dvdcss2 package. Other information:
The xine-lib backend alreayd has an error message for that: num = BVW_ERROR_DVD_ENCRYPTED; message = g_strdup (_("The source seems encrypted and can't be read. Are you trying to play an encrypted DVD without libdvdcss?"));
My bug was a duplicate of this bug : https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/totem/+bug/137527
Bastien: maybe the best would be to show a dialog with a link to some help file, because of legal issues around encryption. Or just say: "Read the help" | "Install anyway" :-p
Are there any plans to fix this in 2.28? If not, I'd like to see what I can do about it. Can you give me some hints about how/where to get the error? Thanks!
sorry, I wasn't sure how to subscribe without posting a comment. But, I'm curious how this bug ends up.
If this has not yet been fixed I'd like to add my 2 cents. Obviously there's legal issues surrounding encryption but is important to provide the user with that knowledge. num = BVW_ERROR_DVD_ENCRYPTED; message = g_strdup (_("The source seems encrypted and can't be read. Are you trying to play an encrypted DVD without libdvdcss?")); Just doesn't cut it because it is less than useful in providing "newbie friendly" information. Something like essage = g_strdup (_("The source you're attempting to view seems to be encrypted and therefore can't be read. It is probably a commercial DVD. Please see: XYZ for more information regarding the issues involved.")); This is probably the most common issue I get asked about by new Linux users and a small change like this could prevent a lot of headaches.
I suppose too totem should display something like that. Or another gnome component like gnome-mount ? Or should we report to our distributions ?
The original bug post was about making this problem easier to solve for beginners. The message at this time was: "Error occured, unable to read from the resource" It is now: "Could not read DVD. This may be because the DVD is encrypted and a DVD decryption library is not installed." See: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9-dclA7Phd2iT7SD-0mqOA?feat=directlink I think this is enough to close this bug as the user now has enough information to start googling a solution. I don't think that telling the user to install libdvdcss2 is necessarily the right thing to do as it is not the only option they have, and also there is the legal issues surrounding it. Other options include buying a commercial DVD player from the Ubuntu store.
As I said downstream, the new error message is an improvement, since it's now slightly more helpful. But still, we need a link to a help page explaining what are encrypted DVDs and how to read them. People shouldn't have to use Google to read a DVD - what kind of OS is that?! So definitely not fixed.
(In reply to comment #9) > People shouldn't have to use Google to > read a DVD - what kind of OS is that?! You can keep those sort of remarks to yourself. I'm not the one making the laws around the world, and whinging in that sort of way isn't helping one bit.
(In reply to comment #10) > (In reply to comment #9) > > People shouldn't have to use Google to > > read a DVD - what kind of OS is that?! > You can keep those sort of remarks to yourself. I'm not the one making the laws > around the world, and whinging in that sort of way isn't helping one bit. I'm not saying we should change the laws, just write a help page explaining the issue, and adding a "Tell me more" button to the error dialog. That way, people don't need to Goolge for "encrypted DVDs with Totem" and read random web pages, but easily get a useful summary of the situation. (And FWIW, that remark wasn't meant to say "GNOME is f*ing broken", but "we shouldn't consider this bug as fully closed just because the error message is no longer wrong".)
Hi Milan, The problem as I see it is that this information cannot be packaged with Ubuntu/Totem in the help or as a link. Yes it sucks but thats that way it is. To quote a previous post on the issue. "Ubuntu *cannot* legally, at least in the US (and soon, perhaps ACTA-signatory countries) tell people where to get libraries that can be used to decrypt DVDs. That's one of the things which makes the DMCA so terrible of a law, is that people can and have been sued for merely linking to or printing instructions on how to download software that can defeat the Content Scrambling System on DVDs. This is an increasingly global problem, and it's not something ubuntu, if they expect not to be sued into oblivion can ignore." As the message to the user has been updated I think this bug should be closed. If the above statement is incorrect (I'm no lawyer) then maybe help could be added, but as far as I can tell the message is the most that we can do. As for the comment about having to Google to watch a DVD unfortunately that would be our beloved Linux as long as it is offered for free and licensing costs such as DVD decoders cannot be covered.
As much as I support an easy use experience, the FSF does not on these issues. That on issues of patents and DMCA, it should be a little annoying for the user. I don't agree with the principle in general, but maybe it does in fact work here. The FSF does think that users should be hassled just a little to inform them that there are political issues here. Obviously, there are going to be varied opinions on that. I think the best that gnome can do is help the user as much as possible without getting involved with the legal issues, and I think that is what has happened here. Leave it to the blogosphere to debate the politics. +1 close it
Timothy, how about creating a help page with just the kind of explanation you gave in your comment? ;-) A help page shouldn't necessarily link to the potentially illegal package, but at least explain what is an encrypted DVD, and tell the user additional software is needed to play them. If a legal store is available, say it. Then, people will have a much clearer picture of the issue - they can eventually do a web search, or ask a friend about where to get the plugin, without thinking their OS is plain broken. Telling people about bad laws is always a good thing.
Ok, So I entered DVD into the Ubuntu help and what did I get? There is a section on this exact topic. And the above statement that I quoted seems not to be the case. Here is and exact extract of the ubuntu help page. How do I enable restricted codecs to play DVDs? DVD support cannot be provided by default in Ubuntu due to legal and technical restrictions. Most commercial DVDs are encrypted and so require the use of decryption software in order to play them. Use Fluendo to legally play DVDs You can buy a commercial DVD decoder that can handle copy protection from Fluendo. It works with Linux and should be legal to use in all countries. Use alternative decryption software In some countries, the use of the below unlicensed decryption software is not permitted by law. Verify that you are within your rights to use it. Install libdvdnav4, libdvdread4, gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad, and gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly. If you would like to play encrypted DVDs (see the legal note above), open the Dash and launch a Terminal. Type the following into the screen which appears, then press Enter: sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh Enter your password to complete the installation. I guess its up to the Totem guys to say if they would allow a similar text in there help?????
Ok I have added a bug to the documents component of Totem here: https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=655886 So the only remaining thing required for this bug would be to add a link to that document once its added. I don't seem to have access to make that bug a blocker maybe someone else could help out with that?
*** Bug 655886 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
(In reply to comment #16) > Ok I have added a bug to the documents component of Totem here: > https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=655886 Which I closed. > So the only remaining thing required for this bug would be to add a link to > that document once its added. Most distributions cannot not even link or name the software in question. So we cannot add that to the help in any case. > I don't seem to have access to make that bug a blocker maybe someone else could > help out with that?
Well then why not close this bug too? Or why not add. How do I enable restricted codecs to play DVDs? DVD support cannot be provided by default in Ubuntu due to legal and technical restrictions. Most commercial DVDs are encrypted and so require the use of decryption software in order to play them. Use Fluendo to legally play DVDs You can buy a commercial DVD decoder that can handle copy protection from Fluendo. It works with Linux and should be legal to use in all countries. After all Fluendo sponsors GStreamer development I don't see how that could not be added.
Ubuntu should be replaced with Totem
How do I play an Encrypted DVD? DVD support cannot be provided by default in Totem due to legal and technical restrictions. Most commercial DVDs are encrypted and so require the use of decryption software in order to play them. Use Fluendo to legally play DVDs You can buy a commercial DVD decoder that can handle copy protection from Fluendo. It works with Linux and should be legal to use in all countries.
The issue with this last help proposal is one could understand "i have no choice but to buy a commercial thing", while in some countries it's not necessary. While the current "Could not read DVD. This may be because the DVD is encrypted and a DVD decryption library is not installed." avoids this issue.
Ok then how about: What is an Encrypted DVD? Most commercial DVDs are encrypted and require the use of decryption software in order to play them. Encrypted DVD support cannot be provided by default in Totem due to licensing issues in some countries. At least this gives the user an idea WHY they have no DVD decryption library installed. Rather than just wondering why it work out of the box in other Operating Systems and not in Linux.
Ok, how about this: 1. It explains why there is no Encrypted DVD support installed by default. 2. It explain to the user the both options they have to get DVDs working 3. It does not link or name the software in question, it leaves it open to the user to explore further. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What is an Encrypted DVD? Most commercial DVDs are encrypted and require the use of decryption software in order to play them. Encrypted DVD support cannot be provided by default in Totem due to licensing issues in some countries. Options: You can buy a commercial DVD decoder that can handle copy protection from Fluendo. It works with Linux and has support for Regions 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. -or- If your country allows the use of unlicenced DVD Decryption software you can install a decryption plugin so that Totem can play Encrypted DVDs.
+1 from me. ;-) Bastien, do you think that would be good to go? Or do you have alternative suggestions?
My 2 cents for the future : with a user manual on mallard format, an additional help page can be created as to appear in the index. If the help is installed without that page it will simply works without including such topic. Wouldn’t be interesting to use this feature in order to allow the packager to decide either to include it or not?
Hi Guys, Is it possible to get a yes/no, or suggestions from the Totem developers on this one? I'm happy to create a patch for this issue but only if I know I wont be wasting my time. As you are not setting it as "Wont fix" it would seen like you want to fix it. Why not use some of us who are willing to help :)
It should just display the same error message as in comment 2. Pointing to the help, right now, with Totem's help being in the state it is, is not helpful. And we can't really educate users if we're not able to mention where to get libdvdcss (because pointing to it is as if we shipped it), or pointing to non-free software. So let's just use a comment that worked, and that was straight forward to action upon by users.
Did we progress on this ? If totem would execute sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh on user approbation, I think it would not break any law nor kills any kitten !
(In reply to comment #29) > Did we progress on this ? > > If totem would execute > > sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh > > on user approbation, I think it would not break any law nor kills any kitten ! It would possibly break laws in a number of countries. So that's a no-go.
(In reply to comment #30) > It would possibly break laws in a number of countries. So that's a no-go. I agree but as it would be on user approbation, it would just be the same as telling on gnome.org or any distro wiki how to launch this command manually If this is SO "breaklaw-full" i'm surprised that libdvdread package this script, but we cannot call it on user approbation. I guess either those DVD people shall propose a legal free Software method for this :-) , or let us do our own way ...
(In reply to comment #31) > (In reply to comment #30) > > > It would possibly break laws in a number of countries. So that's a no-go. > > I agree but as it would be on user approbation, it would just be the same as > telling on gnome.org or any distro wiki how to launch this command manually Which we don't do. > If this is SO "breaklaw-full" i'm surprised that libdvdread package this > script, but we cannot call it on user approbation. There's no such scripts in libdvdread (in version 4.9.9 for example, as available at: http://dvdnav.mplayerhq.hu/#download) > I guess either those DVD people shall propose a legal free Software method for > this :-) , or let us do our own way ... There's no "legal" free software solution in many jurisdictions.
Hi everybody, This is not very useful, but I just wanted to say that this bug is still here in Totem 3.18.1 (Debian unstable). I really think that a simple message, even incomplete, saying "Playing this encrypted DVD requires you to install libdvdcss" would be far better than nothing, especially for newbies : it won't provoke any damage and can still be changed in the future if a better solution is found. Thanks for your time and work, Yvan
-- GitLab Migration Automatic Message -- This bug has been migrated to GNOME's GitLab instance and has been closed from further activity. You can subscribe and participate further through the new bug through this link to our GitLab instance: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/totem/issues/24.