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DivX Contentification

The DivX Open Video System (OVS) is a fully hosted turnkey storage and distribution infrastructure that delivers digital video via the Internet. Since 2001, DivX OVS has delivered secure, DVD-quality video to millions of consumers worldwide.

What is DivX® Video-on-Demand?

DivX technology enables content partners to deliver DVD-quality video-on-demand (VOD) to consumers all over the world via the Internet. This is made possible by state of the art video compression and security technology. With a successful 3-year track record, the DivX VOD solution is a proven system for safely storing and delivering high-quality Internet VOD.

Does DivX VOD support both rentals and purchases?

Yes. DivX VOD supports both rentals and purchases of video content. Rentals expire either by number of views or through a new expires the old system. Purchases do not expire and the customer may keep the title as long as they like.

What equipment will a user need to enjoy DivX VOD content?

DivX VOD requires a PC using the free DivX Player software and a broadband Internet connection.

PC minimum requirements:

  • Pentium II 450 processor or equivalent
  • 64 MB or more of RAM
  • 16 MB video memory or higher
  • DirectX 7 or higher
  • Windows 98 or later
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape 4.7 or later

What additional components are required to watch DivX VOD on a TV?

Viewing DivX VOD content on a TV requires a DivX Certified DVD player in addition to the above. With a DivX Certified DVD player, users may take the exact same file that plays on their PC, burn it to disc and play it on their DivX Certified DVD player. This disc may be either a CD-ROM or a DVD. Most DivX videos are so highly compressed they will fit on a single 700MB CD.

How are DivX VOD files transferred to a consumer's PC?

Files are transferred to the DivX Player on a PC via HTTP. This ensures that every client receives an exact copy of the media at the highest quality and playback is never interrupted. Videos are viewable so soon after the download is initiated thanks to the DivX Player's progressive playback technology, which can start playing files before the download is complete. Live event streaming, which sacrifices quality, is not used.

Can a consumer download a video file and watch it later?

Yes. Consumers may choose to download the entire file before playback. Depending on their network connection, this can take between 30 minutes and a couple of hours. Unlike Real Time Protocol (RTP) streaming, where the file must be transferred at the time of viewing, DivX VOD files are available for playback without having to transfer the video content over the network again.

If a download is interrupted, will it need to be started over from the beginning?

No. When the consumer opens the file again, it will automatically begin downloading from the point where it left off.

Can DivX VOD files be copied and played on another computer, such as the consumer's work computer?

Yes, DivX VOD content belongs to a user account, not a computer. While the video file may be copied, it remains encrypted and can only be viewed by the user who has the rights to view it. The user would simply register the second computer with their username and password to play the copied content.

Will most DivX VOD titles fit on a single CD?

Yes. The DivX codec achieves DVD-quality video at bitrates between 780 Kbps and 1 Mbps meaning a 90 minute video will require a file size of approximately 650 MB. The vast majority of full-length videos encoded with the DivX codec will fit on a single standard CD.

What audio is typically included with DivX videos?

DivX videos generally include MPEG-1 layer 3 audio (MP3).

Does DivX, Inc. offer its own online video store?

No. DivX, Inc. doesn't run its own online video store. We empower other content providers to sell their content using DivX technology to compress and deliver the content.

Is the DivX VOD solution limited to playback on the PC?

No. DivX VOD titles are playable both on a customer's PC and, with a DivX Certified DVD player, on their TV.

What is the DivX® Certified Program?

The DivX Certified Program for consumer electronics devices (CE) is a quality and interoperability standard that allows hardware manufacturers to create DivX capable electronics. When a device achieves DivX Certification, it is guaranteed to play all versions of DivX video files including DivX 3, 4, 5 and DivX Video-on-Demand titles with a full array of advanced features like subtitles and multiple audio tracks. DivX Certified devices are also tested to ensure compatibility with DivX® Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology.

Will DivX VOD files play back on a DivX Certified DVD player?

Yes. As long as the DVD player is DivX Certified and registered for the user, content designed for DivX CE devices will play back on that device.

Do DivX Certified devices require a network or phone connection to play DivX VOD content?

No. DivX VOD files will play back on both network-connected PCs and DivX Certified DVD players with no network connection of any kind.

Is it the same file that plays on a user's PC and on their DivX Certified device?

Yes. If the user has a DivX Certified DVD player, the exact same file that plays on their PC may be burned to a CD and played back on their DivX Certified DVD player.

Will every DivX VOD title play back on a registered DivX Certified device?

It is up to the content provider to decide which content they wish to make available for playback on a DivX Certified device. The DivX Player will indicate which VOD titles are enabled for DivX Certified device playback.

How do consumers setup their DivX Certified devices to work with DivX VOD content?

DivX Certified devices must be registered for the user's account to play VOD content. The registration process is simple and needs only be completed once for each device. The user enters an eight character code from their player into their VOD account, after which they will be sent an activation video which enables DivX VOD files to play on the device.

How many DivX Certified devices can a user register to their VOD account?

Users may register up to six DivX Certified playback devices within a six month period. If they wish to register more, they must contact DivX, Inc.'s customer service to request special permission. Visit http://support.divx.com/cgi-bin/divx.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php and choose "Ask a Question."

If a consumer has a collection of VOD content burned to CDs, and they purchase a new player device, do they need to make a new set of CDs in order to watch that content on their new player?

No. The exact same CDs will work in their new player as soon as they register the device.

Is the number of views a particular user is authorized for dependent on the number of DivX Certified devices that user owns?

Yes. The number of players a person can register is limited, and this limit affects the number of views they get. However, each video authorized for five plays may be played five times on each DivX Certified device registered to that user.

How are video rental expirations managed on DivX Certified devices?

DivX VOD rentals for DivX Certified devices can expire in one of two ways depending on the content provider's preference.

Number of views - In this model, the user is allowed to watch a piece of content a certain number of times before the rental expires. Views are counted only when the file is completely stopped. The consumer may pause, fast forward, rewind or seek as much as they like without using multiple views.

New expires the old - In this model, the user is allotted a certain number of rental slots each of which may contain a single video rental. When a user wishes to download a new video, he or she must free up a rental slot by choosing an existing rental to expire.

What is Digital Rights Management and how does it relate to DivX VOD?

DivX Digital Rights Management is a security technology infrastructure behind the DivX Video-on-Demand solution. DRM technology is responsible for protecting copyrights and enabling users to enjoy purchases and rentals of digital video content legally.

Who provided input during the creation of the DivX DRM system?

DivX DRM was developed with input from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), consumers, consumer electronics makers and major studios. DivX technology has been successfully protecting network-delivered video content for over 3 years.

Does a consumer have to enter a username and password every time they wish to play a DRM protected video?

No. The consumer may set the DivX Player™ application to remember their username and password.

Can a DivX VOD title be copied and played on another computer, such as the consumer's work computer?

Yes. Content belongs to a user account, not a computer. The consumer simply needs to register the second computer with their username and password to play protected content.

What happens if a user shares his or her username and password?

If someone uses the same username and password for the same piece of content too many times during their rental period, access to the content is turned off. This threshold setting is configurable. An example might be 20 key requests in a 24-hour period.

How are content encryption keys transferred to a user's PC player?

The DivX Player is a network application which communicates with the video service. This information is encrypted in SSL3, and the server returns the key. The server makes all the business rule determinations regarding when and where it is valid to give out a key.

Does a user's PC have to be connected to the network to get a key?

Yes. A network connection is required to get a key on a PC. After a play request is granted to the PC, it may be disconnected from the network and will still play the protected file.

Are video files ever left unencrypted on consumer's storage?

No. Content is never left unencrypted on a consumer's hard drive or disc.

Copyright© 2008 DivX, Inc. All rights reserved. DivX® is a registered trademark of DivX, Inc.