AACS Sucks, Advanced Access Content System

In case DRM hasn’t caused you enough pain and suffering already…check it out, you’ve got some required software updating to do. Corel has just introduced a patch to their cracked InterVideo WinDVD software. According to Corel, “a failure to apply the update will result in AACS-protected HD DVD and BD playback being disabled.” What this means is no more hi-definition movies for you.

Oh and this is no ordinary patch, since WinDVD exposed the hardware specific device key to video pirates. You are not only required to update your wanky WinDVD software, you also have to track down and install the paticular AACS patch for the HD DVD player you own. And just think, you can repeat the whole process again after hackers circumvent this latest attempt at “content protection”.

My take: Gotta love it… DRM is so stupid. The studios will fail, but only after massively inconveniencing the customers who wouldn’t be pirating in the first place. The consumer always wins. The sooner companies realize this, the better off we all will be. Completely stupid and eventually massive consumer backlash!

Decryption software for AACS, the scheme used to encrypt content on both next-gen DVD systems (HD-DVD and Blu-ray), was released recently by an anonymous programmer called Muslix. His software, called BackupHDDVD, is now available online. As shipped, it can decrypt HD-DVD’s but it could easily be adapted to decrypt Blu-ray discs.

Commentary has been all over the map, with some calling this a non-event and others seeing the death of AACS. I have been thinking about this question, and we believe the right view is that the software isn’t a big deal by itself, but it is the first step in the meltdown of AACS!

Has the AACS code been cracked??? If it’s true, this could change the system’s in-the-field recovery. Copy protection is not right. The best it can be is a never-ending arms race, which is why Big Media is increasingly relying on legal and social barriers. I’d think it would be great if AACS were cracked, as in ten years this may let me watch movies on VideoLAN in peace and calm instead of fighting a depressing battle with some spyware and adware infested commercial gimmick of a program.

Manufacturers of drives for High Definition Digital Video Disk (DVD) and Blu-ray discs aim to stick to their launch for sometime in March. The first devices will have an interim license according to Blu-ray manufacturers. These licenses will allow the drives to be upgraded with the necessary AACS (Advanced Access Content System) keys before the specification is finished. Hollywood movie studios are insisting that AACS be included in all drives. Without AACS, it will not be possible to play high-resolution movies at all. A Mandatory Managed Copy (MMC) can, however, be made.

BOOOO, are you serious? I cannot backup the movies that I buy? Give me a break. I cannot imagine the fact of me never actually being able to own MY own content again.