Security and rights management

[JulieR]

Are there any particular implications for management of content rights for blu ray as opposed to DVD/downloads etc?

Bill Gates mentioned something recently about security scheme for blu ray but I'm not sure what he was talking about.

Anyone able to enlighted me?

Thanks
julie

[sunflower]

As yet there are no concrete DRM details on Blu-ray and HDDVD.
However I did find the following information as to why Intel did not back Blu-ray. The following information came from an Intel press release and was quoted on
the cdfreaks website:

www.cdfreaks.com/news/12559 (highly recommended website concerning DRM and optical discs)

'The reason we provided support for HD-DVD is that basically it has committed to several features. Specifically, the mandatory managed copy,' said Donald McDonald, vice president and general manager of Intel's digital home group.

Managed copy ensures that users can copy the HD content to a PC or media centre for accessing anywhere in the home and on to portable devices.

'We have not heard an unequivocal statement from the Blu-ray camp to say that you'll be able to have mandatory managed copy without any kind of complications and any kind of issues,' McDonald said. 'The opportunity is for Blu-ray to unequivocally commit to having exactly the same consumer friendly features.'

Well done to Microsoft and Intel for batting for the consumers Lets hope blu-ray follows hddvds example here and adds this feature

[sunflower]

In addition to my previous post I thought some information on the system that will be used to implement DRM features on both Blu-ray and HDDVD.
The Advanced Access Content System, (AACS,) is a standard defined by some huge media companies including Intel, Panasonic, Microsoft, IBM and Warner Brothers to name a few. The standard is nearing completion and will probably be finalised in the next half year.
In short the standard is designed to allow flexible DRM rules, such as managing the number of devices a disc can be streamed to, in a way that will make copying and unauthorised use extremely difficult. I don't think will see a 'DVD John' breaking this protection in a few months.

Here are the outlines of the specification, taken from the AACS website version 0.9 whitepaper:
• AACS should provide robust protection for both off-line playback and optional enhanced uses enabled via on-line
connection.
• AACS shouldProvide for extended and extensible usage (e.g. jukebox storage, pay for copy).
• AACS should Be Independent of physical storage format to the degree possible.
• AACS should ensure Compliant players can authenticate that content came from an authorized, licensed replicator.

Some thoughts on the above:

1. Offline Playback:
The main content on a disc must be available to off line devices for the simple reason that many people may not have such advanced players or internet connections and would be rather annoyed if they could not watch their film after paying for it.
2.Online Playback:
You buy the disc like you would a DVD. You can presumably watch the main film free of charge.
The production studio has the option in making you pay to get extra features included on the disc. Not only that but the specification states that this payment may be in the form of a repeated subscription, i.e. you may have to keep on paying to watch extra features.
On a positive note this technology could gives studios the options of providing extra content via download for free providing you bought the original disc. It could be that the studios reduce the price of the main movie if the extra features aren't included. This is extremely likely
3. Content Authentication
It will be possible to tell if you are buying / bought a pirate copy.

The AACS specifications can be viewed at: http://www.aacsla.com/specifications/specifications.htm
Reading these documents is like attempting to swim through porridge and possibly less fun, but is quite illuminating.

This information was brought to you by sunflower and as such it is unlikely to be completely accurate - why not do something fun for the next half hour try juggling or baking a cake