MESSAGE
| DATE | 2005-08-10 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] DRM issue
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The Blu-ray Discs Association (BDA) has chosen the Advanced Access
Content System (AACS) to protect movies and music stored on the
next-generation optical storage format.
That's no great surprise. The BDA has hinted in the past that it was
likely to adopt AACS, which is being developed specifically for the
successors to today's DVDs.
Indeed, Blu-ray's rival format, HD DVD, also incorporates AACS.
However, the BDA has adopted two extra levels of security. The first is
the so-called 'ROM Mark', which is intended to identify a given disc as
genuine. Designed to defeat counterfeiters, the mark can only be stamped
on discs by authorised mastering equipment.
The second security strand is dubbed 'BD+' and is geared to hindering
attempts to crack the encryption technology shielding the content.
Essentially, it allows the BDA to update the encryption scheme should
the current technique be cracked. If a coder comes up with the Blu-ray
equivalent of DeCSS, the BDA simply updates the format's crypto engine
on all future releases, limiting the volume of content that can be
nabbed. BD+ also locks down players that have been tampered with to
bypass the security system.
HD DVD supporters were quick to claim their favoured format's copy
protection was no less secure than Blu-ray's.
"HD DVD's content protection system provides the highest level of
advanced copy protection to meet content owner's needs and the rigors of
consumer demand," claimed Mark Knox, from Toshiba's HD DVD Promotion
Division.
Of course, that argument is founded in HD DVD's use of AACS - currently
still in development, even though it was due to have been finalised
earlier this year - and its "synthesis of high level security, including
renewability, proven reliability, cost effectiveness and flexibility, as
well as superior implementation in real-world devices".
In short, the HD DVD camp is saying AACS is enough - the concept of
renewability enshrined in BD+ certainly appears to be part of the AACS
specification. Blu-ray's addition of the BD+ system on top of AACS may
simply be a sop to content providers, and if it persuades them that
Blu-ray is the safer system, then it will have done its job. ®
Related stories
HD DVD backers allege Blu-ray 'playability, reliability issues' (1
August 2005)
Toshiba invests in holographic disc firm (19 July 2005)
Sharp develops 100GB optical disc (8 July 2005)
Blu-ray, HD DVD merger talks scrapped (21 June 2005)
TDK touts 100GB recordable Blu-ray Disc (19 May 2005)
Toshiba unveils 45GB HD DVD (11 May 2005)
Toshiba slams Blu-ray/ HD DVD convergence claims (10 May 2005)
Apple backs Blu-ray (10 March 2005)
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