HD DVD key fiasco?

[thunderhawk]

HD DVD key fiasco?

Google & blogs issued with AACS Cease & Desist
Following the wide spread publicity of the AACS hack, especially with working out the HD DVD processing key, the AACS LA has started sending out Cease and Desist letters to various blog sites as well as the search giant Google for publishing the key to simply linking to the Doom9 threads about the crack. These sites have been threatened with legal action if they do not comply. Unlike going after websites publishing DeCSS software or software that uses DeCSS, the processing key is only useful for sophisticated programmers capable of writing software to rip and decrypt the discs, much like how a blue-print drawing of a door key is not sufficient to unlock a door without an engineer first making a physical key based on it.

Unfortunately for the AACS, it looks like it is going to be quite tricky for Google to take on this measure, considering the 1,000's of websites this processing key has been published on and more showing up all the time. Going by the letter, Google had a week from the letter's date of April 17th to comply and despite that period now being long overdue, Google still indexes 1,000's of website site links containing the key as well as the links indicated for removal in the letter.

One thing that makes the HD DVD decryption key more attractive than the DeCSS key for DVD is the ability to create software to play HD DVDs with high definition on systems lacking HDCP support, something even commerical DVD playback software will not allow. At present, while most consumers have a monitor well capable of showing at least 720p at its native resolution, the lack of HDCP support forces the user to either use an analogue connection or be forced to watch the picture in a greatly reduced resolution.

Source: http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/Google-...e--Desist.html


HD-DVD key fiasco is an example of 21st century digital revolt
It's the most circulated number of the week. Sixteen hexadecimal digits that unlock the wonder of most currently released HD-DVD titles from the surly clutches of the AACS revenue content protection system. Sixteen digits that have been posted in so many places -- and in many cases, removed only to be reposted -- that they're hard to avoid.

Source: http://digg.com/tech_news/HD_DVD_key...digital_revolt


It's all over the internet! It even made BBC news...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6615047.stm

This is getting funny...

[GaS]

Man I am so glad Blu-ray has BD+. Would Fox even think about HD-DVD at this time with this stuff going on?

[Josh]

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=162

I've just added my fuel to the fire Sorry its so long, I had an itch to write!

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by GaS

Man I am so glad Blu-ray has BD+. Would Fox even think about HD-DVD at this time with this stuff going on?

Fox isn't putting out any BD titles until BD+ is ready, and HD-DVD has no plans for a security system like BD+, so do YOU think Fox would even think of HD-DVD at all? Only if it's in the context of, "Thank God we didn't choose HD-DVD!" Moreover, Universal and the neutral studios have to take a serious look at this if they're concerned of piracy at all.

Hey, there's a first in the high-def war that HD-DVD can claim: First to be hacked!!! They beat blu-ray to something guys, I'll give them credit for that!!

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by Josh

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=162

I've just added my fuel to the fire Sorry its so long, I had an itch to write!

So BD+ should be good to go for June? That's good news. Any info on PiP? (I know about the Oct. 31 deadline for players, I'm wondering about when it will be good to go on discs).

[thunderhawk]

Originally Posted by Josh

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=162

I've just added my fuel to the fire Sorry its so long, I had an itch to write!

Mmm... Bad boy.

[akadkins]

If there is a code for anything, eventually it will get hacked. I'm no expert, but there is always someone out there who will want to do these things. Anyone who thinks BD+ is 'unbreakable' is kidding themselves.

I just don't see why studios are stopping title production - they don't do it for DVD which would seem much more impacting that Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Originally Posted by nhaase

Moreover, Universal and the neutral studios have to take a serious look at this if they're concerned of piracy at all.

I don't think they'll make any decisions quickly, as we have no way of knowing yet how BD+ will stand up to attempts to hack it. Once BD+ discs have been on sale for 6 months or so, things might start to shift if there has been no sign of progress towards hacking it by then.

Some consumers may actually tend to prefer HD-DVD because it has been hacked, e.g. if they want to be able to play the movies on non-HDCP displays, but to be honest these people should just stop complaining and get themselves some decent equipment.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by akadkins

If there is a code for anything, eventually it will get hacked. I'm no expert, but there is always someone out there who will want to do these things. Anyone who thinks BD+ is 'unbreakable' is kidding themselves.

I just don't see why studios are stopping title production - they don't do it for DVD which would seem much more impacting that Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

Yea, I don't think BD+ is unbreakable, but if a studio wants the most security they can get and still release products, that's what to use. I don't know why they don't pull DVD releases, but it might have something to do w/ volume. If someone breaks the code, they will still sell enough to profit well on it. For high-def, the volumes are so small right now that it might give reason for the hold-offs, but again, I don't know.

Also, high-def is as close to the master source as a consumer can get, so that might have something to do w/ it, too.

[Greenmatiz2]

As I understand it, you can buy AnyDVD and rip an HD Disc to your hard drive anyway. From what I've read, AnyDVD isn't too concerned about BD+.

[ra1024]

I'm a little confused. Does this key mean AACS is completely circumvented like DeCSS for DVD or is this just a temporary problem that will be fixed on later discs and players?

[Josh]

Originally Posted by ra1024

I'm a little confused. Does this key mean AACS is completely circumvented like DeCSS for DVD or is this just a temporary problem that will be fixed on later discs and players?

Temporary problem. DeCSS was made after finding the encryption algorithm. They haven't found that yet - only a top level key developed with it. Once they find the algorithm, or bypass the system altogether, that is when it is broken.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Josh

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=162

I've just added my fuel to the fire Sorry its so long, I had an itch to write!

Great article.

I have to admit I've not been keeping up with this story lately. Has something new happened since the Volume ID hack on the add-on?

I do wonder if this move from the AACS is like the government plastering the news with denials of aliens at Area 51.

That is, it's a head fake. Everyone is so wrapped up with protecting basically useless info from the lawyers, they fail to realize they can't do anything with the info.

Most couldn't do anything with it, even if it was legit.

I believe you'll find that nobody has yet been able to retrieve a title key, and thus actually decrypt content, except from sniffing for the keys in WinDVD application memory.

The rest of the accomplishments are baby steps to a much larger puzzle.

Gary

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by akadkins

I just don't see why studios are stopping title production - they don't do it for DVD which would seem much more impacting that Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

Why they didnt pull back DVD production, is because there is no other protection available to DVDs. HD-DVD has new AACS keys and blu-ray has the same new keys + BD+ and also ROM-Mark which is already in use since day 1. ROM-Mark is the absolute most important thing to these companys, as it prevents Bootleg blu-rays from ever being mass produced. HD-DVD can EASILY be copied, faked and spread into circulation. This is not a possibility on a wide scale on blu-ray, and never will be. BD+ is supposed to have a special protection PER disc. So Spiderman 3 will have to be cracked differently then say, Spiderman 2. Thats why FOX wanted it so badly on the BD Specs.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by akadkins

If there is a code for anything, eventually it will get hacked. I'm no expert, but there is always someone out there who will want to do these things. Anyone who thinks BD+ is 'unbreakable' is kidding themselves.

I just don't see why studios are stopping title production - they don't do it for DVD which would seem much more impacting that Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.

If it wasn't for the weak software player, AACS would not have been circumvented. 128-bit encryption is the same level of encryption the world uses for online transactions. Proper implementation is everything when it comes to security. AACS would still be effective if it wasn't for the Xbox 360 and it's add-on player. They can't be taken out of homes, so AACS is over with. MS has screwed everyone again (mainly HD DVD consumers, though).

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by blitz6speed

BD+ is supposed to have a special protection PER disc. So Spiderman 3 will have to be cracked differently then say, Spiderman 2. Thats why FOX wanted it so badly on the BD Specs.

It's nice of Fox to be so concerned about Spiderman.

BD+ could do many things. It has a seperate secure VM, and a scripting language. And it has access to the decrypted content mux (after AACS is done). So, it could potentially do things like add a watermark, block playback if it can detect it is running on a hacked machine, enforce a firmware update, update the BD+ VM, etc.

One copy protection aspect that has been mentioned is that the authoring software would spoil the content mux (before AACS encryption) with specific "noise" that the BD+ would have to remove. So, getting past AACS would leave you with an invalid content stream.

Since the BD+ script is loaded off the disc (and is itself encrypted), each title could do something completely different, requiring the hackers to crack each BD+ script and apply the fixup(s) to the stream.

Obviously, considerably more work than the in-the-clear HD DVD content. So, you can definitely expect HD DVD to become the format of choice for the pirates (who needs enemas?).

Gary

[Josh]

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/112096/b...as-failed.html

[HDJK]

Josh, who runs the Blu-ray.com website, said...

Nice one

[blitz6speed]

Nice job josh! June seems to be thrown around quite often for BD+, i wonder if thats when the big fox comeback will be happening.

[Nismobeach]

This story was big. It was covered by everyone from hardcore establishment websites like the Financial Times of London to alternative websites like Prison Planet.

Sucks for HD-DVD, but +1 for freedom of speech.