24 August 2006
People urged to boycott HD licensing terms
There is an interesting site describing one major problem with the high definition standards such as HDTV, Blu-ray and HD-DVD.
The first problem is that if you have an HDTV that doesn't have a HDMI port or HDCP compliant DVI port you will not be able to watch HD films in high definition, they will be the exact same quality as a standard DVD. Similarly if your computer doesn't have a HDCP compliant video card and monitor, you cannot watch Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs. Remember that compatable and compliant are two different words and compatable devices will not work.
Blue-ray and HD-DVD formats both use AACS (Advanced Access Content System). This DRM prevents open-source software from being able to use the formats or for that matter any computer not running MacOS or Windows.
Mandatory Managed Copy, which will be available on later generations of the readers, will allow you to make legal backups, but will require an active internet connection. This seems to remind me of the Sony BMG trojan that appeared earlier that had a recall on some CDs over privacy concerns.
The EU has already launched an unofficial investigation into Blu-Ray and HD-DVD regarding anti-trust issues in their licensing terms with Sony confirming that they have received a letter from the EU Commission regarding the issue. If the licensing terms are found to be disagreeable then a full anti-trust investigation can be expected.
The Free Software Federation openly supports a boycott on these technologies because of their attack on people's freedom and on the open-source community. They claim it is a "conspiracy to restrict technology" and should be illegal. The site also urges us to prohibit such technology in our homes if it is not illegal.
While the technology is interesting I would also encourage a boycott of these devices until they are available to everyone not just those using Windows or Mac. The only difference in the technology is that viewers of these high definition films will have a better resolution, but no better sound.
The first problem is that if you have an HDTV that doesn't have a HDMI port or HDCP compliant DVI port you will not be able to watch HD films in high definition, they will be the exact same quality as a standard DVD. Similarly if your computer doesn't have a HDCP compliant video card and monitor, you cannot watch Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs. Remember that compatable and compliant are two different words and compatable devices will not work.
Blue-ray and HD-DVD formats both use AACS (Advanced Access Content System). This DRM prevents open-source software from being able to use the formats or for that matter any computer not running MacOS or Windows.
Mandatory Managed Copy, which will be available on later generations of the readers, will allow you to make legal backups, but will require an active internet connection. This seems to remind me of the Sony BMG trojan that appeared earlier that had a recall on some CDs over privacy concerns.
The EU has already launched an unofficial investigation into Blu-Ray and HD-DVD regarding anti-trust issues in their licensing terms with Sony confirming that they have received a letter from the EU Commission regarding the issue. If the licensing terms are found to be disagreeable then a full anti-trust investigation can be expected.
The Free Software Federation openly supports a boycott on these technologies because of their attack on people's freedom and on the open-source community. They claim it is a "conspiracy to restrict technology" and should be illegal. The site also urges us to prohibit such technology in our homes if it is not illegal.
While the technology is interesting I would also encourage a boycott of these devices until they are available to everyone not just those using Windows or Mac. The only difference in the technology is that viewers of these high definition films will have a better resolution, but no better sound.
