Hollywood can already control what you record on your DVR
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted July 22nd 2008 12:00PM
posted July 22nd 2008 12:00PM
This is an old issue, in fact the ban that the MPAA is petitioning to have removed was part of the Plug and Play agreement from back in 2003. The real reason we are seeing this again, is because something changed recently in the world of HD analog recording; the very first affordable consumer analog HD recorded device was released from Hauppauge. For the first time ever, the new HD-PVR makes it a trivial task for us to record HD via component video. This obviously scares Hollywood, because despite the fact that most consumers would rather rip a Blu-ray Disc -- skipping the whole 2nd generation copy thing -- the MPAA sees every hole as a potential avenue for piracy. The real risk here is not the possibility that we won't be able to record movies with our HD DVRs, or skip over commercials, but that anyone who prefers component over HDMI -- because they have an older TV or because of HDMI handshaking issues, etc -- will be stuck watching standard def programming on their High-Def TVs. But honestly, we think this is a long shot. Even Hollywood knows how much of a nightmare this could turn into, which is why one by one, every studio came out and promised they wouldn't use the Image Constraint Token (ICT) on their new Blu-ray titles -- a comparable feature to SOC included in AACS. They knew that this could be the death knell for any new HD format, and decided that the success of the next generation HD disc was more important -- plus they left the door open to close it up later.
So everyone can put their foil hats away, and get on the right track by helping to tell the FCC that we love component video and aren't ready to give it up just to have some early access to movies at home.
Read - Arstechnica
Read - ZatzNotFunny
I think it will happen just not within the next two years. Analog component is an outdated technology already. It sucks but that is the facts. They could be petitioning to turn the component off (never happen) but they are just wanting to downgrade it. I see it happening over the next 3 to 5 years.
Does this mean that the Hauppauge HD DVR may suddenly stop recording non OTA HD channels?
That is bull___! Someone finally comes up with a useful home product, and Hollywood's bullying already.
I'd like to see a desktop dvr like the above Hauppauge unit, that does not need a computer--Hollywood is killing the marketplace for custom dvrs.
So what you are trying to tell me is, I didn't have to go out and buy that new HDTV with HDMI imputs and that my old one with component inputs would have been just fine. Great, technologly is a love/hate relationship. I hate all of these stupid HDCP, SOC, ICT and so ons. . . Oh well you it wasn't a total loss, I cleaned up a bunch of cable clutter at least.
The only problem with the FC petitions is for every one well-worded comment that actually showed cause and clear intent on the benefits of component over HDMI and that lifting the ban would endanger consumers fair-use you get 100,000: "DUDEZ, DNT' DO ITTT!@!@!@!!!!! ZOMG THEY R EVIL!!!! AnD TEH SUXXORS. WE HEART CMPNENT CABLZES."
That right there dilutes the efficacy of the good comments. The whole point is, that, no company or 3rd party shall dictate or control what we do in our own homes unless it causes harm or limits the rights of others.
As piracy is a real concern, they should refrain from taking retaliatory action and remove the reasons for piracy. Trying to limit our rights even more for sheer profitability will just beget piracy.
Pretty sure my last update for Vista corrected this flag issue.
Copyright is a limited government-enforced monopoly given to encourage creation of works for the public to enjoy. It would only take a vote of Congress to cut copyright terms in half, or limit its effect, or put conditions on it again. Copyright was 26 years in living memory, now it's 95 years (retroactive). It can go the other way.
It would take a groundswell of resentment directed at copyright holders to get Congress to act, but they do seem to be intent on offending every last customer.
Yes, what you wrote above may be true, but it's incomplete. Yes, MPAA wants to use SOC to turn off your analog outputs, but remember this is "Selectable Output Control," not "Selectable Analog Output Control." MPAA isn't just asking the FCC for the ability to limit content out analog outs, it's asking the FCC for the right to be able to choose which output it's movies can use.
Meaning, MPAA could develop it's own special output plug, and only allow it's content to flow out from that plug. Sony is a member of the MPAA, and one of the studios that asked for SOC. Sony is also the company that developed a special proprietary port on the back of their Bravia TVs that their online distribution uses--Hancock is reportedly going to be released early, but only thru this special port on Bravia TVs.
Coming up with a new plug in itself isn't a bad thing, but be assured that manufacturers who want to use that port will have to cripple the functionality of their device. I suggest to you that *that* is what MPAA is really after, not just turning off analog outs.