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Sony, Intel To Push Content Protection

prostoalex writes "Intel and Sony are trying to please the copyright-alerted content publishers and privacy-aware consumers by supporting and pushing Digital Transmission Content Protection standard. New technology allows the consumer to use the downloaded content, but not distribute it outside of their home. A PDF presentation from an Intel engineer is available on dtcp.com."

34 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Handcuffs by dew-genen-ny · · Score: 5, Insightful

    God this sort of stuff pisses me off -

    The analogy that springs to mind is that if you go to the public library, they let you borrow a book, only if you let them chain it to your wrist first.

    Information was, is and should be free.

    --
    tom-george.comBecause geeks rate higher t
    1. Re:Handcuffs by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Information was, is and should be free.

      Jeez, I thought we grew out of this notion five years ago. I guess as a new generation discovers the Internet, we have to go through the drill over and over. Fair enough.

      Information *IS* free. But Entertainment is not, never has been. Because I can render entertainment as data, clone it, and/or easily disseminate it doesn't mean I should. It most certainly does not mean I have a God-given and constitutionally-protected "right" to entertainment.

      The Big Problem has always been: What type of technology will allow us to simultaneously protect a consumer's right to Fair Use while preventing him from illegally distributing the entertainment he has purchased? *Everybody* is working on this; if Sony is finally announcing some progress, my only question is "What took you so long?"

    2. Re:Handcuffs by AstroDrabb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem is that the big media studios are NOT working on protecting Fair Use. They are only working on protecting their "content". They want the abitily to prevent you from copying ANYTHING which is WRONG IMO. We have a right to Fair Use and the legal right to backup. If I make a purchase of a DVD, I have the right to back it up and protect my investment so I don't need to repurchase it a year or two from now when the "content" on it is not usable any more. The media studios have every right to stop me from giving away their content, they DO NOT howver have a right to strip away my right to Fair Use. If they would build a system that allowed people to listen to music or watch movies while still allowing the people to make at least ONE backup, not many people would be outraged by their actions. As it stands now, the media company wants you to "pay-per-view/listen" for every piece of content. This is not fair. If they sell a product to me, then that product is mine and I have a right to back it up, sell it, give it away, throw it out, etc.

      --
      If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
      it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
    3. Re:Handcuffs by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful
      The tech world is filled with smart guys who cut "Mariah-like" deals for themselves; you just don't read about them because Larry Ellison's picture on the cover won't sell many copies of People Magazine.


      Huh? Larry Ellison owns the Oracle corporation! Tech people, when they are really good, they get stock options. Top artists, IMHO, should be treated like that.


      I think the situation is more balanced in the classic music market. There are CDs sold at less than $3, by some obscure east Europe orchestras. CDs by the Berliner Philarmoniker, sold by Deutsche Grammophon cost more, because they are more popular.


      However, the pop music market is highly distorted. This started in the late 1950s, when cheap music recording media, such as the 33 rpm LPs and 45 rpm singles became available. The media companies invented a marketing format based on "superstars" which is becoming more and more dependent on positive feedback. A popular artist becomes popular because she's popular, not because she has any merit. Pick anyone at random, make him sign a contract in the seven-digit range, and you have an instant superstar. Remember Milli Vanilli? This highly distorted marketing scheme is showing cracks, and they are trying to patch those cracks with legislation and DRM, instead on fixing the real cause of low sales, which is the mediocre quality of their artists.

    4. Re:Handcuffs by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 2, Insightful


      The Big Problem has always been: What type of technology will allow us to simultaneously protect a consumer's right to Fair Use while preventing him from illegally distributing the entertainment he has purchased?

      Nah, the bigger problem is this: How can that technology, if it gets invented, work in such a fashion that it doesn't criminalize open source software? Right now, every solution the industry comes up with depends on the software writers being 'trusted' by the recording industry. In other words, the techniques fail if you can write your own software from scratch. (For example, the technology that prevents you from fast-forwarding DVD's during certain sections, and the technology that prevents you from watching a DVD in the "wrong" country, both depend on the software author choosing to go out of his way to enforce it even though customers don't want it. This doesn't work in an open-source solution, which is why the MPAA hates DeCSS so much. It's not the copying, since that can happen anyway - it's the breaking of their ability to tell you exactly how you can and can't view the DVD.)

      I fear DRM because it *does* result in information (not just entertainment) being stifled. Tell someone the information needed to write their own content playing software and go to jail, even though there are reasons for doing so that have nothing to do with piracy.

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

  2. That's it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    No more intel for me. I'm buying AMD from now. In the worst case, I'm moving to China to buy a Chiniese PC. Runs linux.

    1. Re:That's it. by Sphere1952 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Let them put DRM into Linux. That would be great!

      Of course, there's a little clause in the GPL about modifying and redistributing the software...

      --
      Big Brother Bush is doubleplus ungood.
  3. Any attempts always end up getting cracked. by LinuxMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is interesting, because when it all comes down to it, the "good guys" are hurt due to restrictions, and the "bad guys" always end up pirating, etc. I am not sure there really is an answer as to how to protect information 100% without it both hurting the consumer and being crackable by a cracker. Of course, the governments can keep passing laws that make reverse engineering illegal, etc, but again, that's just going to scare the average Joe much more than it would scare someone who really wants to crack a DRM transmission. Only time will tell where the DRM issue ends up.

    the new 40gig ipod

  4. I love the wording on these. by Borealis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Allow" the customer to use digital content at home. You mean the content you payed for? As opposed to not allowing you to listen/watch/use content you've payed for?

    They always word these things like they're *granting* new rights instead of taking them away. I don't know whether to be amused at the balls of the PR makers or dismayed at the fact that there are twits who will read a press release like that and think "Oh goody, I've been wanting to do that."

    --
    Unbreakable toys can be used to break other toys.
  5. Digital Content Protection by Starmaven · · Score: 2, Insightful
    There's always a way to copy music. You can use a double-ended dubbing cable (with stereo plugs on both ends), plug one end inot an MP3 player and the other end into a computer's microphone port. Start up Sound Recorder, or the equivalent, and there's your new, non-content protected MP3. The only way they could completely protect it is to make it impossible for you to listen to it.

    -StarMaven

    --

    -StarMaven

    1. Re:Digital Content Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Obviously the phrase "generation loss" is lossed on you :-)

  6. Is it bad? by joostje · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I guess loads of people will moan about not being able to illegaly copy. But why would it be bad if technology allows the wishes of the copyright owner to be enforcerd.

    What to me is *much* worse, is when these DRM techniques disable me (honest linux user, strictly using Free software), to do things MS users can. I might *want* to pay for a film/song, but if the technology disables me from vieuwing it, I'll have to become a criminal.

    Fortunaltely, the requirements, as stated in the .pdf, are:


    Content Company Requirements for Digital Tansmission

    * Stated Requirement:
    "Keep honest people honest"
    * Specific Requirements:
    [...]

    (page 11 of the document).

    So I guess we're OK then??? (Hope so).

    1. Re:Is it bad? by Sphere1952 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because the wishes of the copyright holder are not the same as the rights of the copyright holder.

      --
      Big Brother Bush is doubleplus ungood.
  7. Of course they can enforce it by AnEmbodiedMind · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The encryption in the DRM will ensure that no untrusted application (or OS) will be able to decode the media file. That way they can easily enforce the constraints on the media (until a bug is found in the DRM code)

  8. Can We Say Fritz Chip? by Praedon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This has got to be fritz chip revisited... I mean come on... Plus, not to mention all the people who will refuse to buy the new cpu, and refuse to update an "eXPerience OS", and just do what a real man does. Go to Linux! Besides.. I fail to see how possible it is to make a CPU Block digital media... not to mention on how possible it really is to accomplish this without touching a very touchy subject of freedom of speech.

    --
    Just me
  9. When are they going to learn? by Apreche · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Stuff like this will be hacked a cracked inside of a few weeks. Stop spending so much money developing DRM technology, it's a total waste. Maybe if you did that, then it would offset some of the money you say you are losing due to infringement.

    --
    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
  10. A simple rule about copying music: by Biogenesis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you can put it through speakers, you can copy it. Simple. It's only a matter of time before someone with high quality gear decides to make a copy for everyone. Sure it might slow down the spread of stolen music, but it can't be stopped.

  11. Again: Nice try. by Qbertino · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When will the vendors finally learn it? CDs would still be a stable market if it weren't for CDRWs costing less than a set of coasters nowadays. You won't turn the weel back with copmetition just around the corner.
    If Intel should start getting truly pesky to customers with TCPA, this new gadget and anything else, AMD, VIA, Motorola and any other Vendor will rejoyce and push out CPUs and Architecture variants that don't have this crap.

    Why don't Corporations just go back to good ol' quality products for a fair price to make money? That used to be a reliable way to do it after all.
    Sanely priced CDs with mp3s and oggs and mpeg videos included, along with interessting booklets should do magic to a declining market. But I guess they just want to sell crap for to much money and will use law enforcement to emphasis that and in the end really piss their customers of.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    1. Re:Again: Nice try. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Using your logic, PhotoShop should cost only a dollar because that's what the blank media is worth. Sheez. What an idiot.

    2. Re:Again: Nice try. by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful
      PhotoShop should cost only a dollar because that's what the blank media is worth


      That's why I don't buy PhotoShop either. It's grossly overpriced, just like pop music.

  12. Re:How are they going to enforce that? by rknop · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can't see any way to enforce that. Of course assuming you are using linux or other open source OS.

    And what makes you think that Linux or any other open source OS is going to be able to view any media in the future? (At least legally?) Heck, it's already illegal, technically, in the USA to watch DVDs with open source software, even DVDs that you have legally purchased.

    -Rob

  13. six months by famazza · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll wait six months until somebody outside US publishes something to crack this bullshit!

    Just like CSS!

    When will they learn that any kind of digital copy protection will ALWAYS be cracked in a few monthes? Don't they have TI advisors?

    --

    -=-=-=-=
    I know life isn't fair, but why can't it ever be un-fair in MY favor!?
  14. Define "home." by ahfoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The PDF was hosed and the CNet article was spartan, so I'm still left wondering about this great big definition issue in the term "home."
    This reminds me of the crisis over defining "copy" that underlies all the legal arguments over file sharing. The fact is, these terms have long been de-stabilized. The advent of electronic media that began at the turn of the century created a whole new level of complexity in language that text based laws simply cannot encompass.
    Just imagine the use of the term "home" in a filesystem. Where is home? Does that mean in relation to root? Which root? Or is it the user home? Does that include the virtual network or locally? Local meaning active or including backups?
    Glazing over these things as if they didn't exist simply because a lot of people don't want to face it is not looking at the reality we live in today.

  15. Excellent. by acceleriter · · Score: 3, Insightful

    More competing standards will cause confusion and anxiety in the marketplace, as skittish "rights" holders wait on the sidelines to see which one will emerge victorious. This could only be helpful in the battle against DRM. I encourage more digital restrictions standards :).

    --

    CEE5210S The signal SIGHUP was received.

  16. Revocation question by Phil+Wherry · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, I actually did RTFA (forgive me!) and note with some concern that the standard provides for "device revocation" under some clearly-defined terms, though those terms are unspecified. Can anyone shed some light on what those might be?

    The obvious concern here is that the devices will be sold under some sort of license agreement that will permit unspecified others to figuratively fry your hardware if they suspect it's compromised (or are otherwise displeased with you). I imagine that one's recourse as a consumer (remember: we're "consumers" and not "citizens" here!) will be quite limited. Sigh.

  17. No thanks, I don't need cripple-ware by orthogonal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    New technology allows the consumer to use the downloaded content, but not distribute it outside of their home.

    Because you should have to pay twice if you want to play the music on a portable mp3 player.

    And of course, no open source mp3 software, because I could compile it with -DNO_DRM.

    Well, Sony, guess what? Having my music conveniently on my PC and on my mp3 portableplayer is what motivates me to buy the music in the first place.

    And guess what? I do respect copyright; I won't even burn a CD for close friends, or rip their CDs -- despite the 32 GB of free space on my portable.

    And I'll continue to respect your copyright: I just won't buy your cripple-ware.

    I can find plenty of great music on old LPs, on real (Phillips-Sony Red Book Standard), from emusic.com, and from independent labels.

    Let me repeat: I don't want your cripple-ware. It does me no good since it won't play on the hardware I control (it only plays on hardware I buy and you control). So it will do you no good -- I won't exchange my money for it.

    The more new releases you distribute exclusively as cripple-ware, the more alternatives will be produced. And that's what I'll be buying.

  18. Typical /. Hipocrisy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As I read the article and then read the comments, it dawned on me after a few lines; there was advocation for breaking the law everywhere I looked. Comments such as 'this will be cracked' and 'we will find other ways to steal music.' What kind of immature attitude is being thrust into the open here? Honestly, if the community doesn't want to be portrayed as a bunch of thieves and black hats, then this kind of idiocy has to stop.

    You don't want to be called a thief for running Linux? You don't want to be known as some script-kiddie hacker for using OSS? Well here is a good hint...stop advocating cracking and stealing music and software. You paid for it and it is yours to use, but, don't share it with the rest of the world.

    Hypocrisy is found here in the more pure form I have ever seen outside of Hollywood.

    1. Re:Typical /. Hipocrisy by __past__ · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Not necessarily. I do respect copyright, don't run unlicesensed software, don't download mp3s or videos from p2p networks etc, yet I do think this will be cracked. And honestly, I will have a good laugh at their expense when it will be.

      The problem is that copy protection has failed every time. From the first attempts from 8bit game producers over hardware dongles and broken audio-"CD"s, nothing has ever really prevented illegal distribution of media and software. But each new attempt has made life worse for the honest paying customer. Currently, I can't play a lot of my "CD"s in my computer or car stereo, because the music industry is deliberatly breaking standards - I could still grab it from Kazaa, of course, and use it without any hassle. What will those DRM-style things bring - will I be able to make a backup of my legally purchased files if I get a new computer or hard drive? Will I be able to use them if I chose to use an operating system the DRM software providers might never have heard of, or simply don't consider big enough a market?

      I still think that on the long run it's a better idea to offer your customers good products at a fair price rather than treating them as a bunch of worthless criminals.

  19. Re:*COUGH* bullshit by gunix · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I was just about to write something about a laptop, never mind.
    Where is this taking us?
    The optimistic future is that the "content" industry can stop being afraid of all that P2P-mess, and they can start cutting the prices, since P2P is the reason for the high prices...

    The more realistic future is that they get an even firmer grip on the consumers and raise prices!

    Should I buy some DRM-free hardware today and save for future use? Well, AMD releases new hardware tomorrow....

    --
    Evolution of Language Through The Ages: 6000 BC : ungh, grrf, booga 2000 AD : grep, awk, sed
  20. They can make all the DRM they want by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll never use it and continue to create my free alternatives that are DRM free.

    if this makes me a criminal then so be it, I'll be an underground criminal but at least I'll be DRM free.

    My Freevo does things that no TiVO can (watch your shows on the subway with your laptop... oh wait you cant without ahack that makes making a freevo box look easy) and I'll always be able to create DRM free mp3's no matter what they try.

    and I know that I'm not the only one that does not want DRM here nor some damned companie's fingers in what I do in my home.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  21. Re:I have the solution by Overzeetop · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But don't forget to send a short (paper) letter to Michael Dell telling him _why_ you chose another vendor to service your corporate account. Preferrably, you can tell him why you have chosen bnot to putchase your next computer from his company, but rather from his competitor. Most businesses & end users don't buy processors, they buy computers. Computer makers must know that we expect computers wihtout DRM shackles, otherwise Intel will continue to underwrite their advertising campaigns and get their hobbled chips into more systems.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  22. Why? by Cycline3 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why are the big companies pushing for DRM? After all - consumers DON't want it - and we aren't likely to buy much DRM protected kit. I understand the IP debate - but if you don't have a product that people want - then you can't sell it. This seems like such a no brainer to me.

  23. Uncrackable isn't the point by swb · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Uncrackable DRM isn't the point or the goal. The goal is DRM layered with enough hard encryption that it's a major pain in the ass.

    It's not a question of how, but when. VHS has no encryption, but Macrovision was applied after development for content protection. CDs were a late 70s/early 80s invention, no encrytption at all, with various macrovision-style protection methods applied later. DVDs were a late 80s, early 90s invention, flawed encryption, with limited DRM via improved macrovision.

    It's clear they're learning, and they'll only get better.

  24. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion