New Lock Aims To End Chip Piracy

Stony Stevenson writes "Pirated microchips based on stolen blueprints could soon be a thing of the past thanks to computer engineers at Rice University and the University of Michigan. The engineers have devised a way to head off this costly infringement by giving each chip its own unique lock and key. The patent holder would hold the keys, and the chip would securely communicate with the patent holder to unlock itself. The chip could operate only after being unlocked. The Ending Piracy of Integrated Circuits (Epic) technique relies on established cryptography methods, and introduces subtle changes into the chip design process without affecting performance or power consumption. With Epic protection enabled, each integrated circuit would be manufactured with a few extra switches that behave like a combination lock."

Comments

Giving new meaning to....

[coolhaus]

Giving new meaning to your CPU locking up.

Oblig.

[Bobb Sledd]

Dark Helmet: "So the combination is one, two, three, four, five? That's the stupidest combination I've ever heard in my life! The kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!"
...
President Skroob: "1 2 3 4 5? That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!"

Holy crap

[Bobfrankly1]

I guess this means I'll have to buy genuine Ruffles and Doritos from now on!
--
How many mod points will this bad pun cost me?

When it detects that it's a pirate copy, it says:

[spun]

EPIC FAIL!

Error Message?

[CompMD]

Wrong crypto key?

EPIC FAIL.

Re:Not a good idea

[Frosty Piss]

Could some criminal organization figure out the method of re-locking it?

Which government agency are you thinking of specifically?

Re:Physical DRM

[burni]

Yep, "great"!

.. soon to be cracked, by a great army of brilliant chinese/taiwanese/etc.. engineers,
specialized in getting to know how everything works.

Just to remember, how long did it took to crack HD-DVD encryption ?
Not long enough to survive it's own extinction.

We all know the story's ending, it just happens too often.

Re:Well, if they have the blueprint...

[Sta7ic]

Sure thing. Just gotta jimmy a paperclip in there at the 45nm level.

Re:Same Non-Problem, Same *WRONG* Solution

[KublaiKhan]

I can think of a way to make an obscene profit off of it: negotiate to be paid by the hour rather than by the unit. The longer it takes to authenticate a chip, the better. ;-P

In other news...

[dragisha]

Hundreds of thousands personal (and not so personal) computers locked themselves today after rogue group of Mongolian hackers stole keychain from, as evidence shows, not so secure vaults at "EPIC Security Ltd.". EPIC security guards went high alert, but they failed to act in time before Mongols (riding bareback and yelling) departed.

EPIC Security Ltd. issued security update and instructions for unlocking targeted computers. Users just have to bring their computers (or if it's easier for them only their CPU's - very small chips with very many pins underside)to EPIC Security Ltd.'s premises or nearest servicing outlet.

List of outlet's is sent directly by email to every user targeted.

Re:When it detects that it's a pirate copy, it say

[pitchpipe]

Not only EPIC FAIL, maybe we could have this chip report you to a patent offenders registry where all of the other chips that are using EPIC could deny your using them to prevent further patent abuse.

Hurries and puts bleeding child in car. Turns key...
"I'm sorry sir, your patent offenders registry status prevents you from starting this car."
But car, I need to get to the emerg... "I'm sorry sir, your patent offenders registry status prevents you from starting this car."
Oh fuck it!
Dials phone
"I'm sorry sir, your patent offenders registry status prevents you from dialing this phone. Please seek the assistance of a non-offender in...