Complete Guide to Playing Movies and Music on Linux

“If it provides any reassurance, it helps to know that this
problem is not specifically limited to Linux. Windows XP and some
of the low-end editions of Vista are unable to play DVDs out of the
box as well, and no version of Windows offers out of the box
Blu-Ray support.

“Even if you have the requisite codecs, you may still be
hindered if the file you are trying to play is protected by strong
DRM. Many people have gotten burned over the years by
DRM-encumbered media that has a built-in time limit, requires a
special player, or must “phone home” for license confirmation each
time you want to play it. The last method is especially bad, since
you will no longer be able to view the files you are legally
entitled to if the media company suddenly shuts down the
authentication server; this has happened several times in the past
and customers were left high and dry in all instances. Aside from
breaking the copy protection (which requires some skill in most
cases in addition to being technically illegal thanks to the
infamous Digital Millennium Copyright Act) there is little you can
do in such instances except hate the media companies that insist on
such strong measures.”

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