Media, tech firms probe possible high-def DVD hack

reuters.com ^ | Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:46am ET | Gina Keating

[mowowie]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The companies behind an encryption system for high-definition DVDs are looking into a hacker's claim that he has cracked the code protecting the new discs from piracy, a spokesman for one of the companies said on Thursday.

A hacker known as Muslix64 posted on the Internet details of how he unlocked the encryption, known as the Advanced Access Content System, which prevents high-definition discs from illegal copying by restricting which devices can play them.

The AACS system was developed by companies including Walt Disney Co., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Sony Corp. to protect high-definition formats, including Toshiba's HD-DVD and Sony's Blu-ray.

Muslix64 posted a video and decryption codes showing how to copy several films, including Warner Bros' "Full Metal Jacket" and Universal Studios' "Van Helsing," on a popular hacker Internet blog and a video-sharing site.

The hacker also promised to post more source code on January 2 that will allow users to copy a wider range of titles.

A spokesman for one of the AACS companies, who declined to have the company identified, said they were aware of it and were looking into the claims, but would not elaborate.

[RockinRight]

I'm not in favor of piracy, but it gets ridiculous that one cannot copy their OWN DVD for their OWN use anymore.

[dave48170]

Anything conceived in the human mind can also be defeated by the human mind.

[hunter112]

I agree, but instead of the word "can", I substitute the word "will".

[dave48170]

Exactly.

[darkwing104]

Give them credit. If the Govt put the same effort in it's affairs that hackers do in breaking code, there would be fewer problems.

[aft_lizard]

I agree. The worst is yet to come. People who dont have HDCP on there HDTV's will be forced to watch BR-Discs and HD-DVD at a lessened resolution. The only cure as of now is sto go out and pay for a new TV. We can all blame this on Clinton and Congress for passing the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.

[RockinRight]

I'm all in favor of squashing big-time piracy, where people sell pirated discs at a huge profit. But home copying and even Napster type stuff doesn't hurt anyone.

Why? Because for me, stuff I used to download off Napster, if I couldn't get it free, I WOULD JUST GO WITHOUT. Therefore, either way, they aren't getting my business.

[sionnsar]

The worst is yet to come.

Wait until you see what Microsoft's preparing for you in (Mala) Vista.

[sionnsar]

I agree. The worst is yet to come. People who dont have HDCP on there HDTV's will be forced to watch BR-Discs and HD-DVD at a lessened resolution. The only cure as of now is sto go out and pay for a new TV. We can all blame this on Clinton and Congress for passing the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.

HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ping

[aft_lizard]

Alot of that is the same as HDCP, which is what consumer electronics will have to deal with Blu-Ray and HD-DVD in the years to come.

[unlearner]

Well, not all thieves are as honorable as you.

Some of them actually avoid paying money for stuff when they can get it for "free".

The flip side of the coin is that there are a lot of products (especially computer based) which are designed with the guiding principle of controlled obsolescence. That is also a form of theft.

I think Congress ought to set shorter limits for the copyright protection of software, music and movies (especially for personal use). The current imbalance does not favor the "progress of science and art" and encourages theft.

[RockinRight]

I wasn't suggesting necessarily that "file sharing" is OK. And I don't appreciate being called a thief. My point was that there are bigger fish to fry.

[RockinRight]

I see nothing wrong with taping (or recording to DVD) a movie off TV to watch later on. It was FREE on TV in the first place (and if it were PPV, Satellite, or Cable, you already pay for it in your subscription) and TiVO is legal, so why not?

[PA Engineer]

I have always wondered if an unexpected consequence of anti-copy technology will be a class action defective product lawsuit. DVDs will fail. I have purchased some that were defective right out of the box.

Obviously, the trade-groups (recording industry) are aware of these problems yet they are the largest proponents of anti-copy technology. What is to prevent a lawsuit to dig into the very deep pockets of the recording industry as punishment for selling defective products? Are there any legal scholars here who can comment on this?

[AFreeBird]

'm not in favor of piracy, but it gets ridiculous that one cannot copy their OWN DVD for their OWN use anymore.

Same here. I would like to be able to rip my DVD's to my hard drive for acrhival purposes, and to have a central server from where I can call them up from any TV I have connected to it. And I'd like to be able to use any hardware and software that I so choose.

But the way they (MPAA, Studios, M$ et al) would have it; you'll have to buy approved hardware and software and TV's, all registered just so you can watch anything, cause the audio/video stream will be encrypted right up the the point where the TV flips the bits for the screen pixels, and the audio deck sends the sound to the speakers. The DRM isn't just to protect artists, but a scam to force people into buying new equipment and software even if what they have is only a year or two old.

[zeugma]

Tech Ping

[RockinRight]

I'm all for copyright laws. After all, we're NOT China. But our government takes it WAY too far.

[AFreeBird]

But our government takes it WAY too far.

It's amazing what you can do if you have enough money to buy a few congressmen and senators.

[UpAllNight]

--I see nothing wrong with taping (or recording to DVD) a movie off TV to watch later on.--

You still can. You just won't be able to intercept the 1080p signal for direct digital copying.