The FCC puts the MPAA on hold

[admin]

The MPAA had sought the Federal Communications Commission's permission to use selectable output control on a new type of service to be offered by cable and satellite TV operators: movies made available on-demand shortly after they debuted in theaters, well before they were released on DVD. Studios could use the new technique to turn off the analog outputs on cable or satellite receivers, allowing the movies to be transmitted only through encrypted digital outputs. Closing the so-called "analog hole" would make it harder for people to make pristine digital copies of the movie.

-- snip --

According to Broadcasting & Cable magazine's website, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said today that he didn't support the MPAA's petition, which means the studios will have to try again with Martin's replacement.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/12/mpaa-output-con.html

[drfsupercenter]

Isn't it impossible to "close" the analog hole?

The MPAA should know that by now... anything that can be watched can be recorded, decrypted, whatever.

Though it would be cool if they did video on demand before the DVDs came out... I'm one of those people with the non-Macrovision-abiding DVD recorders who could um... totally break whatever the MPAA is trying to instill?

[Budreaux]

They just don;t get it.

Does anyone realize how many talented reverse engineering minded/experienced players are in this game.

i don;t think I have a single device, other than my plasma tv, running on it's manufacturer firmware. Most of these so-called holes are dealt with through firmware modifications.

I've done it all from PS2 modding to DTV hacking/coding to C Band and I'm not even in the top percentile of the talented players.

[drfsupercenter]

Not to mention people with first-generation TiVos (You know, before they got "smart"?) will be able to easily record whatever they want...