Friday, March 18, 2005
Microsoft to Lock Down Longhorn?
Posted by Jason Dunn in "ARTICLE" @ 02:00 PM
"For people who've been obsessed with issues surrounding the broadcast flag on HDTV content, things are about to get even more difficult. Heise Online is reporting that the next version of Windows will have extra-strength DRM capabilities tied into PC hardware. The move by Microsoft is to assure content producers that products they release will be protected against unauthorized copying and distribution when used on a PC. So say bye bye to audio stream rippers and video capture techniques that in the past have circumvented copy-protection on digital works."
After reading this article, I was a little shocked at the implications. The way most "ripping" programs work today, whether they be audio or DVD rippers, is by intercepting the post-decrypted data. It sounds like Microsoft is planning on encrypting the whole thing, from end to end, making it impossible to capture a DVD video stream after it's been decrypted. This doesn't bode well for those of us who like to use our media in different ways and on different devices. 8O
After reading this article, I was a little shocked at the implications. The way most "ripping" programs work today, whether they be audio or DVD rippers, is by intercepting the post-decrypted data. It sounds like Microsoft is planning on encrypting the whole thing, from end to end, making it impossible to capture a DVD video stream after it's been decrypted. This doesn't bode well for those of us who like to use our media in different ways and on different devices. 8O
