Copy protection specifics in the new plug-n-play standard for cableTV

The article "FCC Adopts Plug-&-Play Compatibility Standards" (Widescreen
Review, Issue 78, Nov 2003) makes the following points:

* There are 3 levels of copy protection: copy-once, copy-never,
copy-freely.

* Basic cable and premium channels are copy-once. Ie. for time shifting
purposes

* Video-on-demand & pay-per-view are copy-never.

* Broadcast programming is copy-freely.

* The rules apply to "all multi-channel video distributors", which
includes direct broadcast satellite services (ie. DirecTV & Dish)

* The new rules prohibit the use of "selectable output controls". Ie.
companies are *not* allowed to selectively disable or degraded analog
outputs for copy protected shows.

* The article says, "The studios claim that without that ability [to
selectable output controls] it is too risky to make high value HDTV
programming widely available."

* Confusingly, the article also says the studios lost out on their bid
to include a broadcast flag requirement in the new FCC rules (isn't some
sort of flag needed to implement the copy-once/never/freely mentioned
above?). "The studios want all digital receiving devices to recognize
and respond to specific flag embedded in digital signals to insure
compliance with copying rules". The FCC will consider the broadcast
flag requirement separately.

--
Ben in DC
(put 030516 anywhere in the subj to get thru)
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be moved by statistics"
Oscar Wilde

Put 030516 in email subj to get thru ) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
The article "FCC Adopts Plug-&-Play Compatibility Standards" (Widescreen
Review, Issue 78, Nov 2003) makes the following points:

* Broadcast programming is copy-freely.

This seems odd, since OTA HD is "broadcast programming", and yet the new
broadcast flag ruling makes it *not* copy-freely for an OTA receiver, yet
it would be if you got the same thing via cable.

--
Jeff Rife | Norm: You know what I think the most important
For address harvesters: | thing in life is...is love. And you wanna
| know what I love?
| Sam: Beer, Norm?
| Norm: Yeah, I'll have a quick one.

Put 030516 in email subj to get thru wrotd:

The article "FCC Adopts Plug-&-Play Compatibility Standards" (Widescreen
Review, Issue 78, Nov 2003) makes the following points:

* There are 3 levels of copy protection: copy-once, copy-never,
copy-freely.

* Basic cable and premium channels are copy-once. Ie. for time shifting
purposes

* Video-on-demand & pay-per-view are copy-never.

* Broadcast programming is copy-freely.


Want to bet that NOTHING is ever "copy-freely?"

* The rules apply to "all multi-channel video distributors", which
includes direct broadcast satellite services (ie. DirecTV & Dish)

* The new rules prohibit the use of "selectable output controls". Ie.
companies are *not* allowed to selectively disable or degraded analog
outputs for copy protected shows.


Yeah, right.

* The article says, "The studios claim that without that ability [to
selectable output controls] it is too risky to make high value HDTV
programming widely available."


This is bull**** too!

* Confusingly, the article also says the studios lost out on their bid
to include a broadcast flag requirement in the new FCC rules (isn't some
sort of flag needed to implement the copy-once/never/freely mentioned
above?). "The studios want all digital receiving devices to recognize
and respond to specific flag embedded in digital signals to insure
compliance with copying rules". The FCC will consider the broadcast
flag requirement separately.

And this is bull**** too!

I've got a suggestion: The MPAA can copy protect anything it broadcast,
as long as there is a tax of $10,000,000.00 / hour, or any fraction thereof,
payable by the MPAA and NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE! Violation of this is subject to a
fine of $100,000,000.00/ infraction, doubling after two infractions, plus a 10
year prison term for all the chief executives and board of directors. Hey,
there is a $250,000.00 fine and five years in jail for stealing one song off one
CD. What is sauce for the goose is what I say.

Hermango

I am unclear on what effect if any this broadcast flag will have on today's
HD recording hardware and software. For instance, will the MDP-120 and MyHD
sw currently working on my HTPC stop working with this flag? Or will they
bypass the flag? Anyone know?

--
eNo
"Why am I here?"

eNo ) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
I am unclear on what effect if any this broadcast flag will have on today's
HD recording hardware and software. For instance, will the MDP-120 and MyHD
sw currently working on my HTPC stop working with this flag?

Nope, it will work fine.

Or will they
bypass the flag?

It will ignore it, as is permitted in the spec for all legacy hardware and
software. MIT has announced they will not change the software to support
or even recognize the flag because Korea doesn't have it, and they want
to keep the code base the same except for message strings.

Digital Connection has announced that they will stop selling the MIT/MyHD
products that don't conform as of June 30, 2005, so we have over a year
to get a new card.

--
Jeff Rife |
For address harvesters: | http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/Dilbert/DoomedProject.jpg
|
|
|

"Jeff Rife" wrote in message
...
eNo ) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
I am unclear on what effect if any this broadcast flag will have on
today's
HD recording hardware and software. For instance, will the MDP-120 and
MyHD
sw currently working on my HTPC stop working with this flag?

Nope, it will work fine.

Or will
they
bypass the flag?

It will ignore it, as is permitted in the spec for all legacy hardware and
software. MIT has announced they will not change the software to support
or even recognize the flag because Korea doesn't have it, and they want
to keep the code base the same except for message strings.

Well, this is good news and makes my day, so thank you. I'll baby my HTPC
and MyHD so they last me for some time . This reminds me of when "gun
control" laws crippled handgun clips to hold no more than 10 bullets. The
month before, I went out and purchased 3 15-round clips--at a discount,
since they were about to become "obsolete." I'll make myself a note to do
likewise with HD capture equipment .

Digital Connection has announced that they will stop selling the MIT/MyHD
products that don't conform as of June 30, 2005, so we have over a year
to get a new card.

Which will probably force MIT's hand: either support the flag or lose a not
insignificant market. I also predict the media moguls will begin putting the
squeeze on non-U.S. markets to employ "HD control" once they realize that
the leak they plugged in the U.S. is nowhere near the flood abroad.

--
eNo
"Why am I here?"

eNo ) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
Digital Connection has announced that they will stop selling the MIT/MyHD
products that don't conform as of June 30, 2005, so we have over a year
to get a new card.

Which will probably force MIT's hand: either support the flag or lose a not
insignificant market.

Although significant now, by then there will be a multitude of commercial
solutions (HD TiVo, etc.) that will do the job for most people.

I also predict the media moguls will begin putting the
squeeze on non-U.S. markets to employ "HD control" once they realize that
the leak they plugged in the U.S. is nowhere near the flood abroad.

Actually, with millions of HD PCI card in PCs by this time next year, I
don't think there will be any shortage of HD content on the Internet. New
products will just treat files from legacy hardware/software as if it is
the first reception. Thus, they will honor the BF settings, but just because
it didn't come in via the normal way, it should play back just fine.

--
Jeff Rife | Sam: How's life treatin' you, Norm?
For address harvesters: |
| Norm: Well, Sammy, it's not...so I sure
| hope you are.
|

Jeff Rife wrotd:

Digital Connection has announced that they will stop selling the MIT/MyHD
products that don't conform as of June 30, 2005, so we have over a year
to get a new card.

I ordered mine two days ago! **** Jack Valenti! **** the
MPAA!!!!!!!!!!!! **** the FCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermango