Leaked HDCP Master Key Legit: Intel

[btarunr]

Earlier this month, it was reported that the master-key that overrides or unlocks HDCP-encrypted digital content may have been leaked. The worst fears of the HDCP team are coming true, with Intel, a main developer of HDCP, confirming that the master-key leak is genuine. High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is everywhere, wherever there's commercial high-definition video content, such as Blu-ray movie titles, HDTV set-top boxes, PCs capable of Blu-ray playback, and so on. It is an encryption layer that protects the HD content in its natural audio-video quality from being ripped. Without HDCP one would still be able to watch HD content, albeit with degraded quality.

The immediate repercussions of the master key leak are directed at consumer electronics manufacturers, they might hesitate to adopt HDCP paying its royalty for making use of the protocol, there is technically no fidelity left in it. Grey-market and el-cheapo consumer electronic manufacturers can circumvent HDCP compliance to offer near-perfect video playback. What's worse, it's party-time for pirates. Devices that recover digital content while retaining perfect picture/audio quality by stripping out the encryption can be made. Whatever the consequences Intel maintains it won't affect HDCP much.

"We believe that this technology will remain effective," said Intel's spokesperson Tom Waldrop. "There's a large install base of licensed devices including several hundred licensees that will continue to use it and in any case, were a (circumvention) device to appear that attempts to take advantage of this particular hack there are legal remedies, particularly under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)," he added. This indicates that the publishing industry will indeed have to fall back to DMCA for enforcing IPR. Again, a company the size of Intel won't leave any stone unturned in pursuing manufacturers of unauthorized devices.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[RejZoR]

As much buzz was around HDCP on launch, i don't ever remember dealing with it in any way (or having problems because of it).
And i use mixed bag of legit and second hand goods. So i don't think anything will change for most users like me.

 

[digibucc]

As much buzz was around HDCP on launch, i don't ever remember dealing with it in any way (or having problems because of it).
And i use mixed bag of legit and second hand goods. So i don't think anything will change for most users like me.

yeah i've had a few problems, especially on PC HDTV components.

 

[TurdFergasun]

well at least now they'll have the excuse they've been waiting for to roll out some even more draconian hardware based drm we'll all have to buy to see hd content in the future. yay for the consumer!

 

[Kreij]

There has been a lot of musing on this in the news the last couple of days.
Some web sites sensationalize this quite a bit, but I do not think it's going to be that large of a problem.
From what I've read, you will have to have one of these (circumvention) devices between everything that the signal passes between. That's could be rather cumbersome to implement, and it's doubtful that the average "joe" (the majority) would go through the trouble.

But as always, time will tell.

 

[HalfAHertz]

I think the real problem is that pirates can pirate blu ray movies now without any loss of quality

 

[digibucc]

I think the real problem is that pirates can pirate blu ray movies now without any loss of quality

yeah but how many people download the 45gb disk? or even the 20gb full movie without extras? most will download the 3gb BRRip which I doubt will increase much in quality through this.

 

[Munki]

yeah but how many people download the 45gb disk? or even the 20gb full movie without extras? most will download the 3gb BRRip which I doubt will increase much in quality through this.

You would be surprised at how many people have dedicated servers overseas (from a USA standpoint) where these actions are legal. These servers have fiber lines downloading at the very least 12mb/s. When the downloads are complete and located on the server, they just download it again from the server when they want it.

 

[mdsx1950]

yeah but how many people download the 45gb disk? or even the 20gb full movie without extras? most will download the 3gb BRRip which I doubt will increase much in quality through this.

Its not that. Someone will download that 45gb disk. And make copies and sell them for atleast 1/3rd the price of an original. And i can bet you that person will be wealthy fast!

 

[FordGT90Concept]

+1 to consumers. HDCP never served a useful purpose to consumers (it's a PITA, especially for those in the presentation industry) and it needs to die. It only exists to make the MPAA happy and no one wants the MPAA happy except the MPAA and politicians. Good riddence I say.

 

[Mussels]

HDCP makes me sad, cause it only lets me get stereo audio out of my HDTV when using a HDMI input

 

[claylomax]

Time to get a Blu-Ray writer.

 

[Phxprovost]

while i am a fan of any drm getting curb stomped....you know this only means that something more complex and asinine will be forced on the consumer

 

[mdm-adph]

while i am a fan of any drm getting curb stomped....you know this only means that something more complex and asinine will be forced on the consumer

Who knows -- eventually they may go the route of the music industry and just not care anymore (at least on the technical side of things, they certainly haven't stopped suing people or pressing charges).

 

[Wile E]

I think the real problem is that pirates can pirate blu ray movies now without any loss of quality

I rip all my BDs to HDD now, with zero quality loss, as it is. It doesn't really affect that. This is more about displaying the content.

+1 to consumers. HDCP never served a useful purpose to consumers (it's a PITA, especially for those in the presentation industry) and it needs to die. It only exists to make the MPAA happy and no one wants the MPAA happy except the MPAA and politicians. Good riddence I say.

I agree. I have no issues now, as all my hardware is compliant, but on my old monitor it was a PITA on the discs that actually enforced it. This is a boon to people that have older, non-compliant hardware, and can't afford a new monitor. Now, they just need a cheap little black box inline with their monitor cable.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

agreed i have a AL2016w vga 1680x1050 secondary monitor now hopefully i can run HDCP content on it soon

 

[WarEagleAU]

I never even heard that this was leaked, so much for me keeping up with current news. As Intel says I doubt this will affect anything. With programs like ANYHD DVD and what not, HDCP isn't that much of a cumbersome key. Also, I never even notice it using my own personal legit devices.

 

[Mussels]

I never even heard that this was leaked, so much for me keeping up with current news. As Intel says I doubt this will affect anything. With programs like ANYHD DVD and what not, HDCP isn't that much of a cumbersome key. Also, I never even notice it using my own personal legit devices.

anyDVD once it gets hold of this, will become perfect - it wont need updates to break new movies.

 

[newtekie1]

As much buzz was around HDCP on launch, i don't ever remember dealing with it in any way (or having problems because of it).
And i use mixed bag of legit and second hand goods. So i don't think anything will change for most users like me.

I've only ran across 2 instances where I've had problems with HDCP, both with my PS3 and both dealing with older monitors/HDTVs that don't support HDCP.

The first was with a older 17" 1280x1024 DVI monitor I wanted to use as a temporary screen to play games on while my TV was being repaired. It simply refused to output a video signal.

The second was with an older HDTV with an HDMI port that again the PS3 would simply refuse to output a signal to.

It is my understanding that HDCP compliant devices are simply supposed to revert to 1080i or 720p in cases where HDCP is not present, but it seems like Sony simply refused to allow any digital video at all...

 

[Steevo]

I ran into it where my computer plus my older projector wouldn't allow video output from a DVD, so even after renting a film, I was forced to pirate.

 

[Wile E]

I've only ran across 2 instances where I've had problems with HDCP, both with my PS3 and both dealing with older monitors/HDTVs that don't support HDCP.

The first was with a older 17" 1280x1024 DVI monitor I wanted to use as a temporary screen to play games on while my TV was being repaired. It simply refused to output a video signal.

The second was with an older HDTV with an HDMI port that again the PS3 would simply refuse to output a signal to.

It is my understanding that HDCP compliant devices are simply supposed to revert to 1080i or 720p in cases where HDCP is not present, but it seems like Sony simply refused to allow any digital video at all...

No, it's the content provider's choice on what to do. Some give you no video, some give you SD, some give 720, etc., etc.

 

[kaneda]

Strangely, the fansubbing scene has absolutely no issue ripping full Blu-ray discs and releasing them( at the full 40+GB) for a fair few years.

I'm not entirely sure what the deal is, I've never known HDCP to prevent piracy... digital piracy anyway.

 

[Mussels]

Strangely, the fansubbing scene has absolutely no issue ripping full Blu-ray discs and releasing them( at the full 40+GB) for a fair few years.

I'm not entirely sure what the deal is, I've never known HDCP to prevent piracy... digital piracy anyway.

people were brute forcing or just cracking individual keys for each particular movie, with the master key its now 'one key fits all' - it takes less effort to rip the FIRST disk, and then spread the key (anyDVDHD is one program that uses these keys as they get found)

 

[kaneda]

people were brute forcing or just cracking individual keys for each particular movie, with the master key its now 'one key fits all' - it takes less effort to rip the FIRST disk, and then spread the key (anyDVDHD is one program that uses these keys as they get found)

ah, makes sense. the pirates will never be stopped

 

[1freedude]

I don't remember where I read it, but there is a new type of drm that can prevent playback, regardless of hdcp, hdmi, anydvd, even cams will not play.

from what I remember, an inaudible tone is part of the soundtrack. if the playing device "hears" this tone, playback is not possible, regardless of hdcp.