Due to copyright laws, most DVD movies cannot be copied or reproduced to disc. Even though copyright laws have always been in effect, many people disregarded this law. In turn, some created a business by producing movie replicas and selling the bootleg copies for profit. In an effort to minimize the number of DVD duplications, companies producing motion pictures begin encrypting DVD's, which made reproduction impossible. Yet, by means of DVD decrypters, copy protected DVD's could be decoded and reproduced.

DVD decrypter is free software, and easily accessible. Naturally, companies producing DVD's have fought to have such software banned. During the past two years, several websites have offered this freeware. Yet, due to various legal disputes, many websites have been forced to remove DVD decrypter software from their sites. Of course, this has not stopped other companies from offering the software. Due to the wide popularity of the software, it is extremely difficult to keep a close eye on every company offering a copy protected decoder. Even though the actual decrypter is legal, and useful for creating backup copies of DVD's, distribution of the software is illegal. In the latter case, decrypters are often used as a way of copying and selling movies illegally.

DVD decrypters are also useful for decoding and copying video games on DVD. Gamers can attest to the high cost of video games. Even though there are practical means for acquiring games such as online auctions and secondhand stores, new releases are usually in high demand. For this matter, friends may combine their resources and purchase a single game, and then reproduce several copies. The game may be copied to a hard disk or a blank DVD. Persons looking to reproduce DVD's and video game CD's can find decrypter software on the Internet. Because the downloadable version is freeware, it is illegal for distributors to charge for the software program.