BBC Wants DRM On HD Broadcasts

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BBC Wants DRM On HD Broadcasts

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday September 16, 2009 @05:16AM from the dtv-drm-bbq dept.

NickFortune writes "The EFF's Danny O'Brien has pointed out that the BBC has asked a UK regulator for permission to add DRM to their high-definition broadcasts. Apparently, this is at the behest of content providers. 'BBC is proposing to encode the TV listings metadata that accompanies all digital TV channels with a simple compression algorithm. The parameters to this algorithm would be kept secret by the BBC: it would ask manufacturers to sign a private agreement in order to receive a copy. This license would require the implementation of pervasive DRM in the equipment they build.' Ofcom, the regulatory body in question, has detailed the proposal asked for comments, but the window closes today."

8 of 267 comments (clear)

Damn you BBC! Damn you to HELL! by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-16 05:20 · Score: 5, Funny

a simple compression algorithm. The parameters to this algorithm would be kept secret by the BBC
My GOD! Hackers will *NEVER* figure this one out!
Re:You're obliged to pay for it by BadAnalogyGuy · 2009-09-16 05:37 · Score: 4, Funny

I can safely say there is absolutely no competition. None at all.
That's usually the case with government-sponsored monopolies.
Re:Modern DRM is non-scientific by bcmm · 2009-09-16 05:45 · Score: 2, Funny

You remind me of Gene Ray, except that I agree with your basic sentiment.

--
# cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i llama
Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
Re:You're obliged to pay for it by sexconker · 2009-09-16 06:03 · Score: 2, Funny

IS there a British equivalent of "Elmo knows where you live!"?
Re:You're obliged to pay for it by N!k0N · 2009-09-16 06:18 · Score: 2, Funny

Straight from the BBC offices:
BBC DRM guy 1: We need a way to keep these sneaky people from stealing our HD
BBC DRM Guy 2: oh! I know! how about we encrypt it some how

(some time passes)
BBC DRM Guys (in unison) I've got it! we'll use the key 09:F9:11:02:9D:74:E3:5B:D8:41:56:C5:63:56:88:C0....
Re:You're obliged to pay for it by the_lesser_gatsby · 2009-09-16 07:10 · Score: 5, Funny

It's not a tax. It is a toll for a service.
Re:You're obliged to pay for it by Inda · 2009-09-16 08:54 · Score: 3, Funny

Fine? How about prison?
It's said that a lot of women are in prison because they cannot pay the fines from not having a TV license.
BBC admits going too far with TV license reminder slogan 'Your Arse Won't be Safe in Prison'
I jest?

--
This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
Re:You're obliged to pay for it by discord5 · 2009-09-16 09:52 · Score: 3, Funny

It's not a tax. It is a toll for a service.
That's a nice television you have there. It would be a shame if something were to happen to it.