As the Motion Picture Association of America continues on its unending (we mean that quite literally) quest to banish digital piracy, it has just announced its unbridled support for yet another technology. The MPAA has approved the use of DreamStream's secure online file streaming system "as a solution to curb digital piracy," and according to Michael Jay Solomon, founder of Solomon Entertainment Enterprises, the software will "allow the content providers to recoup the billions of dollars that they are loosing [sic] right now." If you got a chuckle out of that, get a load of this. Ulf Diebel, chief development officer for DreamStream, went so far as to say that in order to "win the war on piracy, the studios need DreamStream's military grade capabilities." Heck, the company even asserts that its "unpublished encryption has never been compromised by hackers or digital pirates." Sheesh , don't you all know what happens when you just beg to be circumvented?

The crew over SlySoft isn't messing around, as just days after the v6.4.1.1 update hit the web, along comes yet another version to run laps around Big Content's best efforts. Posted yesterday, AnyDVD HD 6.4.5.0 adds in support for "a new version" of BD+ that's apparently included on films such as Jumper and a new flavor of AACS. This update also fixes a few minor problems with CSS logging and key retrieval, not to mention quirks found when removing ALPHA-DVD protection. You know the drill, head on down and stay current.

[Via CDFreaks]

Just an update on the broadcast flag controversy: NBC has copped to an "inadvertent mistake" in flagging the broadcast of American Gladiators as content prohibited from recording, while Microsoft stated it is only following the FCC's rules, and "fully adheres to flags used by broadcasters". This conveniently ignores the fact that there is no legal requirement for Windows Vista Media Center to recognize the broadcast flag and disable recording, but it does. Errant metadata can and does happen, but for such a "feature" to be buried within one's software unknowingly is troubling. Expect to hear more from the EFF and others questioning why Media Center unnecessarily turns parts of itself off at a broadcaster's command, and rightly so. What's most disturbing, and likely to go sadly without protest is that someone out there is actually watching, and trying to record for later, American Gladiators. The more you know indeed.

[Via Techdirt]

Just like efforts to close the analog hole, our old friend the broadcast flag (don't remember what that is and how it was defeated? Take a quick trip back to 2005 with us) has reared its ugly head again. Displaying the kind of tenacity rarely seen outside of horror movie villains and potential presidential candidates, some Vista Media Center users have apparently gotten the above popup while trying to record broadcast TV from NBC. Since the FCC regulation giving the broadcast flag its power to remotely disable your recording ability was overturned, not only should it not be enabled, there's no reason the system should respond if it were. The EFF's working with the makers of the HDHomeRun to find out why this happened at all (although it's not the first time); whether it's an honest mistake somewhere or if Microsoft slipped a bit of extra DRM into its latest OS.

[Via EFF]

Moving beyond day-and-date releases via internet and HD video-on-demand, movie studios may be ready to move towards regularly putting movies online ahead of the DVD release date for a premium price -- that surveys say some of us are willing to pay -- but prepare to have your analog hole plugged again. The MPAA petitioned the FCC earlier this month to lift the existing ban preventing cable and satellite providers from remotely disabling analog outputs on their set-top boxes via selectable output controls (SOC). In a bit of ICT redux, the movie studios haven't said definitively that they will use the technology, but insist on having the ability to force anyone wanting to view high definition movies to only see them through an HDCP-protected HDMI output to a compatible TV. The failure of AACS and BD+ to prevent high quality copies isn't a deterrent to the MPAA's push, so while ICT has gone unused on Blu-ray and HD DVD, we're still too fond of our component outs, switchers and homemade cables -- and too wary of a future change in policy -- to support any changes in the law.

For those feeling too locked down by Xbox Live and Apple TV's restrictive DRM policies, there is a ray of hope, as the LA Times notes the PlayStation 3's yet-to-debut but still due in '08 online video service could be based on "open standards" with an eye towards multiple device compatibility. Sony might not usually be the name we'd associate with relaxed copy protection, but with several standard (Bluetooth, SATA, DivX etc.) technologies already finding a home on the PS3, we're cautiously optimistic. Now, Sony, tell us what we want to hear about all HD downloads and background transcoding for copy to portables.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

It's sad, really. Nearly three full years ago we were attempting to curb our enthusiasm as we heard that Managed Copy could be a mandatory aspect of Blu-ray Discs. Fast forward to the present, and we're hearing the brilliant technology may not even make the cut for the finalized AACS specifications. According to Consumer Electronics Daily, the so-called "cornerstone of the AACS content protection system" may not ever become a reality, as the final AACS specs -- which are due to (finally) be wrapped up this summer -- aren't likely to include MC. As expected, the issue here seems to circle around content licensing, with studios "not always having the content rights to allow for a Managed Copy." Finally, a decent idea in the DRM realm, and it could quite possibly remain just an idea forever.

Looking to get into the online movie business? Well sit down because CinemaNow and Technicolor have a deal for you, since they've hooked up and are offering a "better way to deliver the digital content consumers are demanding". Basically the plan is to take the internet movie store CinemaNow has developed franchise, and allow other companies to introduce their own marketplace without having to develop their own encoding, encryption, DRM, hosting or other necessary technology -- and it sounds like a good one to us. Technicolor brings not only its infrastructure, but also plans to collab with CinemaNow on projects like adding additional HD movies to its 10,000+ database of titles. Of course CinemaNow's compatibility with the Xbox 360 and other devices is part of the package (though we wonder if those DVD burning issues have been resolved) -- potentially turning competition like Netflix, Blockbuster or Wal-Mart into partners.

[Via Reuters]

Nothing lets you know spring is in the air like fevered cat-and-mouse DRM activity. The AACS LA (Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator) has seen fit to try the "proactive renewal" strategy, hoping that changing up the encryption keys will keep Blu-ray Region B users securely under thumb. Good luck: the ominous-sounding MKB v7 is already "supported" in SlySoft's AnyDVD HD version 6.4.1.1, released yesterday. The end result is exactly zero "downtime" for users, as discs utilizing MKB v7 aren't due out until the end of this month. To add insult to injury, SlySoft then turned around and loosed version 6.4.1.2 today with "Improved region lock removal from Blu-ray discs which contain signed Java code." SlySoft doesn't look like it's willing to relinquish its role as fox in the henhouse!


[Via Afterdawn]

For owners of the VUDU set-top-box and even the Apple TV, hearing of some sort of "24-hour limitation" is nothing new. Unfortunately for DirecTV subscribers, they'll soon be understanding exactly what it means to have content guardians put the squeeze on PPV purchases. Though it was announced late last month, just one week remains until pay-pay-view purchases made through the satcaster have a 24-hour time limit imposed on them from the time of purchase. DTV does note, however, that any flicks in your playlist prior to April 15th won't be affected. Lovely, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

The cat-and-mouse game of DRM is probably never going to end, but 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has signed up with USVO's MediaEscort technology to add watermarking to its arsenal. MediaEscort is suited for the growing internet streaming market, and embeds watermarks during content delivery. Thus, if either the legitimate recipient or an online interloper decides to "share the wealth," there's forensic evidence that can be used to figure out both where the leak occurred and how big it is. While we aren't big fans of DRM, it's really because of all the problems it inevitably causes legitimate end-users; watermarking is a different story. As watermarking grows in popularity, we'll see if efforts to strip watermarks grow to the level we currently see in DRM removal.

When SlySoft announced last week that it'd finally unlocked BD+ content, it got a lot of news coverage -- even some in the mainstream media. But what didn't get discussed was the fact that SlySoft didn't get it done by the end of 2007, as previously promised. Well Ars took the story one step closer and among other things uncovered the real reason -- no it wasn't because it was so 'hard' -- it took so long. Peer van Heuen, SlySoft head of HD technologies said in a post that "it was decided for strategic reasons to wait a bit for the outcome of the 'format war' between HD DVD and Blu-ray." We bet Macrovision wished it'd waited a bit longer before dropping $45 Million purchase on another piece of useless DRM.

Everyone knows you can find torrents from plenty of TV shows on the internet, but it's usually not seeded by the broadcaster. Taking a page out of mariposaHD's book, the CBC is putting a "high quality" DRM-free copy of Canada's Next Great Prime Minister online (no wonder they think HDTV has no business model) after it airs March 23. No idea yet if this is a one time thing or the start of a trend, but we applaud the Canadians for one-upping Her podcasting Majesty in getting with digital distribution. Hopefully, the reasoning behind selecting political leaders soliciting ideas for a better country via a reality TV show (and why the U.S. isn't), will also be answered.

[Thanks, Sukhminder]

The title pretty much says it all here, folks. Just a few months after SlySoft revealed a beta of its AnyDVD HD software which obliterated BD+, v6.4.0.0 has finally arrived and proudly possesses the ability to "remove BD+ protection from Blu-ray Discs." Among the other changes is an option to enable / disable BD+ removal, a fix for seeing a black display with some BD discs and other minor DVD-related tweaks. Brimming with excitement? Hit up the read link below -- your next download awaits.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Recent announcements on iTunes rentals certainly caused a stir amongst the neglected Mac-masses, but it looks like the online rental game is about to get a little more cutthroat for fanboys and fangirls everywhere. According to a new report (and backed up by an earlier blog post), streaming content for Netflix subscribers is headed to Mac screens in 2008 -- if everyone has their way. During the company's Q4 earnings call this week, the snail-mail service hinted that this would be the year that streaming rentals would come to Mac users due to the advent of DRM options that play nice with Apple's gear (namely, Microsoft's Silverlight technology). Combine this with news that the company plans to offer all-you-can-eat online rentals for $8.99 a month, its intentions to bring a STB to market with LG, and a possible game console partnership -- well, it all adds up to stiff competition for Apple and other challengers, despite what they say.

[Via Mac Rumors]

Read - Netflix: Mac Streaming Coming This Year
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