Macrovision announced Wednesday that Ubi Soft Entertainment will join the ranks of other game publishers like Interplay, MicroProse, Red Storm Entertainment, and Talonsoft in using its SafeDisc copy protection software for CD-ROMs.

　　SafeDisc works twofold, by placing an authenticating digital signature on the CD-ROM and surrounding the data with an encrypted multilayer wrapper. According to SafeDisc, the digital signature cannot be copied by today's recorders and can only be inserted during the factory's burning procedure.

　　"We are extremely pleased with the positive response SafeDisc has garnered since its introduction into the market, and we relish the opportunity to work with Ubi Soft in the fight to help reduce software piracy worldwide," said Brian Dunn, vice president of computer software copy protection at Macrovision.

　　Users, however, have experienced problems in using CD-ROMs encoded with SafeDisc, as many older players refuse to work correctly and may not even recognize the CD-ROM.

　　"Many software publishers are spending enormous amounts of energy combining high technology with great gameplay but are neglecting to protect their finished product from the growing software piracy epidemic," said Yves Guillemot, president of Ubi Soft Entertainment. "We felt it was critical to use Macrovision's SafeDisc copy protection to ensure protection for our consumers and to maintain our reputation."