This can't be right.. • Non-Gaming • News and Politics • Eurogamer.net

Captain-Fetid 15 Apr 2005 08:29:13 659 posts
Registered 17 years ago

From Slashdot:

AACS, the proposed key management scheme for HD DVD, has finally released preliminary (ver 0.9) specifications. The specs look like CSS on steroids: they use AES instead of proprietary crypto, but other than that they're basically the same. The main difference appears to be that AACS can revoke an entire player model if a hack appears against it, which I guess sucks if you own that kind of player.

This is getting ridiculous.

sam_spade 15 Apr 2005 08:33:52 15,745 posts
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Ah. Entertainment industry when will you ever learn?

Deleted user 15 April 2005 08:45:16

I don't really understand what it means by "revoking". Does AACS employ some sort of online check when you insert a HD DVD? Or do they mean it's locking the player permanently once the player has been detected as being tampered with?

Still, we'll end up paying extra for technology somebody will break within the first months. Looks like the DVD format will be with us for a few more years.

Captain-Fetid 15 Apr 2005 08:52:23 659 posts
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As far as I can tell, you'd still be able to play older disks on a revoked piece of hardware, but new releases would not play on it.

People seem to be suggesting BIOS flashing while you watch a disk too. Imagine the problems this could create! Or store klerks trying to explain people why their DVD player won't work anymore.

ssuellid 15 Apr 2005 08:52:24 19,142 posts
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I guess they have sort of the wrong end of the stick. The proposals say that AACS allows you to copy your HD-DVD to a PC HD and then use the PC as a local media server. But AACS also allows them to revoke this ability - e.g. if someone is using it to webcast films etc.

Captain-Fetid 15 Apr 2005 08:53:07 659 posts
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Hmm; another case of /. faux reporting then?

They scare me with their Big Brother stories.

ssuellid 15 Apr 2005 08:56:34 19,142 posts
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Well I could be wrong but slashdots intepretation does not match what I have read elsewhere.

ssuellid 15 Apr 2005 08:57:51 19,142 posts
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Just skimmed the spec and the 'enhanced uses' are verified online.

edit. Also it looks like in certain( not specified) cirumstances that copyrighted content may also be revoked. Each disc will have a Content Revocation List put on it at the fab.

Edited by ssuellid at 08:02:04 15-04-2005