EFF: AACS will not stop piracy-just unexpected innovation

April 17, 2006

This is kind of an interesting article. We have the Electronic Frontier Foundations take on AACS or Advanced Access Content System. they not only think it is going to be ineffective against piracy, they don't even think that this is why it is so popular with big corporations.

Too much control? But in their efforts to combat piracy, some believe the entertainment industry will have too much control over how consumers can use both software and hardware.
AACS uses industrial-strength encryption technology and an elaborate key-based system for authenticating hardware and software.
These keys can be modified at any time, so that if unlicensed players or drives come on to the market, updated keys can be added to new video releases. The new keys could restrict playback to older title releases or even disable a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player by modifying its firmware. But Michael Ayers, a spokesman for AACS LA, says such steps would not be taken lightly: "It couldn't be done unilaterally by one party."
But as Seth Schoen, staff technologist of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www. eff.org), points out, this system won't help reduce piracy: "The key management system is aimed at preventing people from making unauthorized players, not from making unauthorized copies, and it probably won't prevent file sharing either."
Schoen believes technologies like AACS will stifle innovation and competition: "It's easier to see why major electronics companies and Microsoft are keen on AACS: because it will help them curtail competition among players and stop anyone from introducing unforeseen disruptive innovations in the home entertainment market. The VCR, TiVo, and Slingbox have all come from nowhere and shaken things up; major manufacturers and entertainment companies would like to see that this doesn't happen again."

This is an interesting take on the situation and one that is worth thinking about. However, I was not aware that Microsoft had any love affair going with AACS. However, I know they are quite enamored with HD-DVD Mandatory Managed Copy controls. But, I suppose what this gentleman is saying makes sense. You can check out the article in it's entirety by following this link to the Taipei Times.

Source: Taipei Times