Copy-protection provider Fortium Technologies has signed a new OEM partner, Microboards Technology, who will distribute Patronus DVD anti rip copy protection software through its disc publishing solutions white labelled as ‘VideoWrite’. Microboards joins a growing list of disc publishing vendors in white labelling Patronus to provide a DVD copy protection service to customers.

Powered by this software, Rimage launched Rimage Video Protect (RVP) in 2007 and Primera launched PT Protect in 2008, boosting equipment sales for both companies as a result. Fortium has recently signed OEM partner agreements with other major disc publishing vendors, details of which are to be announced shortly.

"Patronus software was widely used by the Hollywood studios for this season’s Academy Awards screeners often in conjunction with watermarking and the software is now adopted by some studios and used on all internally produced DVDs as part of anti piracy policy," says Mathew Gilliat-Smith, CEO of Fortium Technologies. "In other areas the Institute of Videography (IOV) promotes the use of Patronus copy protection to its members, who are often special-interest and wedding videographers, as a way of helping members retain their margins by selling more discs that are priced on a per unit basis."

A separate version of Patronus is now available for use on mass market replicated DVDs and the manufacturing group VDC in London are offering this service. UK-based 10th Planet has announced the first use of Patronus branded as DVD Sequr Copy Protection on a replicated DVD, “Crudelli on Crime,” an independent documentary production by the martial arts expert and TV presenter Chris Crudelli.

Microboards will be offering Patronus as VideoWrite on publishing systems running PrintWrite v1.3 or higher. VideoWrite automatically determines whether the .ISO file being recorded is a valid video format and enables the copy protection option inside PrintWrite.

Story filed 29.04.09