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FCC Allows Blocking of Set-Top Box Outputs

Posted by timothy on from the big-mama-deciding-which-kid-to-favor dept.

bth writes with this excerpt of an AP story as carried by Yahoo: "Federal regulators are endorsing Hollywood's efforts to let cable and satellite TV companies turn off output connections on the back of set-top boxes to prevent illegal copying of movies. ... In its decision Friday, the agency stressed that its waiver includes several important conditions, including limits on how long studios can use the blocking technology. The FCC said the technology cannot be used on a particular movie once it is out on DVD or Blu-ray, or after 90 days from the time it is first used on that movie, whichever comes first."

2 of 288 comments (clear)

  1. Re:PREDICTIONS ARE IN by gandhi_2 · · Score: 5, Informative

    MPAA considered harmful.

    --
    THL phish sticks
  2. They won't turn them all off by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 4, Informative

    Just all the analogue ones. The media industry is convinced that HDMI with HDCP is completely uncrackable and thus what they need to go with. Output over HDMI only, and then nobody can capture your signal.

    Of course there's plenty of ways around that, HDCP is not particularly good encryption and has been broken in numerous ways. However they are convinced if they can just get everyone on it, things will be great.

    However that screws over anyone with an older display. If you have a display that was made before HDCP came in to play (or before they had digital inputs), you are SOL.

    So what will happen is pirates will simply get around it and distribute the content, legit consumers will get screwed. Same as always.