The FCC has given the nod to both Phillips and NEC, enabling them to use and license their Video Content Protection System or VCPS. The impact for us is, after the system is in place, we may not be able to record digital broadcasts to optical discs and also we will not be able to share the content on the Internet. Any programming that contains the new Broadcast Flag or watermark, can make use of this technology. My understanding is the technology will allow the content creator the ability to decide what can be done with the material.
By next July, the new Broadcast Flag takes effect in the United States. Every television produced from that point on will have to support the new technology. Recorders do not have to support VCPS, however, if they don't and they run up against this watermark, they simply won't work. No playing no recording.
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Philips is handling the licensing of VCPS and is charging a one-off fee of €5000, an annual fee of €10,000 plus other royalties depending on what you're licensing the technology for - software, disc mastering tools, disc replication equipment, etc. VCPS protects the video recording by encrypting the MPEG 2 streams. A variety of techniques are used, including encrypting the disc sectors that contain MPEG 2 video using 128-bit AES. Blank media are equipped with a Disk Key Block in their track wobble (ADIP) data, with which the hardware uses its own Device Key to encrypt and decrypt the recorded MPEG 2 data. |
Well, how do you like them apples? Kind of convenient when a new mandatory law comes along that cripples technology and then someone can make money off it. Luckily for me, I haven't seen anything on television worth recording in years. Sure, there are some good programs out there, but I just wait an hour or two and it's on again. Having said that, we have to wonder about the stance that will be taken on time shifting, a very popular application for video recorders.I'm probably a bit paranoid, but what scares me is this; The Broadcast Flag technology could one day give content providers ability to control my hardware in other ways, when coupled with the right content protection. For instance, it seems possible to disable fast forward during commercials. You can read the rest of the story at the Register.
What do you think, is this a Frankenstein monster for the consumer? Will the television industry endanger the PVR market with this new capability? Or will the marketplace be able to cause enough pressure for a reasonable compromise?
Source: The Register
