CyberLink's PowerDVD 12: A Software that Turns into Useless after Two Years

I recently found myself in a frustrating situation with CyberLink's PowerDVD 12 software. Despite only using it for 17 months, I was no longer able to play certain Blu-ray discs due to the expiration of the AACS keys. This experience has left me feeling disappointed and concerned about the software industry's approach to licensing and customer satisfaction.

It appears that CyberLink is aware of this issue and has chosen to implement a two-year lifespan for their software, despite it being technically possible to extend or update the AACS keys manually. Instead, they simply advise customers to purchase the latest version of PowerDVD, which can be quite expensive, especially considering the short time frame between updates.

My situation is particularly galling because I had already invested in a hardware Blu-ray player and was expecting a longer lifespan from CyberLink's software equivalent. The fact that my legally purchased copy of PowerDVD 12 refuses to play discs produced after May 2011 is not only inconvenient but also feels like a kick in the teeth.

It's worth noting that this issue is not unique to me or even PowerDVD 12. According to various reports and reviews, all versions of PowerDVD suffer from the same problem. This means that customers who purchase earlier versions of the software can expect to face similar issues when their AACS keys expire.

In my case, I am unable to watch a number of popular Blu-ray discs, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Prometheus, and the new Criterion remaster of Seven Samurai. This is not only frustrating but also feels like a significant loss of value from my initial investment in the software.

CyberLink's solution to this problem seems to be to simply tell customers to upgrade to the latest version of PowerDVD, which can be quite expensive. This approach does little to address the concerns of customers who have already invested time and money into their current version of the software.

In conclusion, my experience with CyberLink's PowerDVD 12 has left me feeling disappointed and concerned about the industry's approach to licensing and customer satisfaction. The expiration of the AACS keys after only two years is a significant issue that affects not just me but also many other customers who have purchased earlier versions of the software.

Cyberlink power dvd 12