serial copy management system (SCMS)

Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) is a digital copy protection system. It regulates the number of copies and marks the copies in such a way that it is possible to determine how many copies have been made.

SMCS was introduced in 1989 and identifies not only whether copying is allowed or not, but also whether the signals originate from an analog source or have already been copied digitally. SMCS has a two- digit ID digital code, where the 00 mark allows copies, the 10 mark does not allow copies, and the 11 mark allows only one copy.