Sony BMG is probably not the only copyright holder toying with risky technologies that can actually destroy your computer system. Problem is, you don’t know who else that might be.

As a result, even legitimate purchasers of copyrighted audio CDs and DVDs need to protect themselves from potentially insane vendors… at least till the current management crews are properly lined up on the breadlines.

Enter Fengtao Software. The Beijing company offers a full line of DVD and audio CD rippers ranging in price from US$25 for basic versions of DVDIdle, a caching filter for your favorite play/copy software that removes regional limitations, to a whopping US$60 for DVDFab Platinum, a semi-pro copier that performs all kinds of additional magic.

The best DVDIdle blocks autorun, and removes region codes (RC), CSS encryption, and region code enhancement (RCE). It blocks user operation prohibitions (UoP), along with Sony ARccOS and analog copy protection, too.

DVDFab Platinum strips all restrictions: CSS, Region, RCE, APS, UOPs, etc. It compresses DVD-9 to a single DVD, or; splits it into two DVDs, with complete menus on both discs, or; burns to double layer DVD-DL.

Fengtao says that, while your copied discs will play on any ordinary home player, you should download a free trial to make sure.

Ironies abound. We like this one: A Red Chinese outfit steps forward to protect Western music and movie lovers from a horde of crazy free-market capitalists. China’s come a long way while a few of our capitalists have moved the other direction.