Nothing demonstrates the futility of DRMs arms like the HD-DVD fiasco. Ed Felten has posted about the latest crack on the latest patch of the failing security system used to protect high definition discs. After the now infamous key number was cracked last month and publicised last month, the solution Read more…
(via Machine-Envy and PanGloss) It’s amazing what a little hacktivism and playing around with search engines can do. If AACS starts issuing more cease-and-desist letter to take down the much-commented HD-DVD key from websites, they may have to remove this one. And then Think Geek has a set of notes Read more…
This is a bizarre take on copyright law. DRM manufacturers Media Rights Technologies (MRT) and BlueBeat.com have issued cease and desist letters against Apple, Microsoft, Real and Adobe for not including their technological protection measures in products like Windows, iPod and Flash Player. I could try to explain the convoluted Read more…
(via David Berry) The BBC reports that AACS has vowed to fight against bloggers, aggregators, and all sort of users who have posted the now infamous key online. I must admit that my original scepticism has dissipated, and I cannot possibly believe that AACS would ever dream to take on Read more…
Back in January I had reported on the hacking of HD-DVD protection by improper key management. AACS, makers of the DRM protecting the new format, vowed to try to shut down BackupHDDDVD, which is instrumental to some part of the cracking process. At the time I thought it was likely Read more…
As I mentioned yesterday, the EMI and iTunes DRM deal did happen, and it was not a joke. I have nothing else to add, as it seems like everyone and their mothers have been talking about it. The demise of DRM? The beginning of the end? The rise of iTunes? Read more…
Apple boss Steve Jobs has surprised pretty much everyone by making a statement about technological protection measures in the music industry, in a move reminiscent of Bill Gates’ comment about how DRM had become too complex for consumers. In an open letter to the public, Jobs has stated that: “Why Read more…
(Via SCRIPT News) The copy-protection system shipped with every HD-DVD has been cracked, according to the firm in charge of licensing, Advanced Access Content System (AACS). As with DVDs before, licensed players come with a built-in encryption key (device key) which can unlock the content within High Definition discs, protected Read more…
(via Colin Miller. This post is best enjoyed while listening to either Iron Maiden’s “The Number of The Beast”, or R.E.M.’s “The End of The World As We Know It”) . Windows Vista is nearly upon us. Woe unto us, et cetera, et cetera. The Internet is abuzz with stories Read more…
(via Techdirt) USA Today reports that online movie rental service Netflix is ready to begin offering a truly Internet rental service to its subscribers. Perhaps downloading is not the precise word, as the movies will be streamed into the computer, and therefore “in theory” will not be subject to being Read more…