FCC turns down MPAA bid for selectable output control
Posted on 04/01/09 23:55 by Michael Hatamoto                             
FCC turns down MPAA bid for selectable output control

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) wanted the Federal Communications Commission's permission to use a controversial anti-piracy technique in which the FCC would grant a waiver for blocking selected video outputs.

"I'm not supportive of moving forward with this MPAA proposal at this time," FCC Chair Kevin Martin told Ars Technica.  "If another Commission" wishes to deal with this issue, "they will be able to, obviously, but I'm not supportive of it."

Martin's term as FCC chairman isn't officially over until 2011, but it's likely he'll resign before then, as the GOP majority in the FCC has dwindled.  The MPAA will now have to wait until President-elect Barack Obama takes over the U.S. presidency later this month before the same issue will be dealt with.

The MPAA hopes to receive FCC approval to essentially work alongside cable TV providers to ensure analog output of pre-DVD release movies -- especially in high-definition format -- will not be available, unless using the MPAA's "secure and protected digital outputs."

The MPAA believes analog streams are too insecure, and can have their protection measures easily stripped.

Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal City Studios, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Brothers jointly filed the request.


Bookmark and Share
Reactions
Discuss this article with your fellow community members! We appreciate your valuable input, but please keep the reaction policy in mind and make sure your reaction is constructive.
ferd

It doesn't matter.  If there is a demand for it, SlySoft will figure out a way.Smilie

I think you're confused, or didn't read the article completely.

Slysoft's AnyDVD is for computer based DVD Players, and removes the encryption of DVD's and BluRay Disks. It does not work on Video on Demand, Pay Per View, etc, and such on TV 's and via cable / satellite boxes.....which is what the MPAA is asking the FCC to help them with. The MPAA wants to be able to selectively block outputs that aren't HDCP compliant from Set Top Boxes to the TV set, such as component / composite / SVideo, etc....It has nothing to do with computers and computer DVD / BluRay Players.


Username:
Email:


Your comment:

Receive notification on new comments?

Top news

RSS

Top reaction posters

Hemispasm
Hemispasm
with 13 reactions last 7 days.
ferd
ferd
with 11 reactions last 7 days.
debro
debro
with 9 reactions last 7 days.

Our Community messages