DRM Compatibility

MetalStorm · 17 Jul 2006 at 15:00

So I've heard about this DRM stuff and how its basically going to stop people pirating videos and what not, however what I'm concerned with is the fact that the producers of DVDs and HDDVDs etc using DRM will be able to prevent people from running the content in the full resolution if their hardware doesn't incorporate this DRM standard. The content producer is also able to make it so that it doesn't play AT ALL if your hardware isn't up to scratch.

I'm not exactly sure of the ETA for hardware DRM but I believe it's sometime around when vista is to be released, but the big question is what hardware needs to be DRM compatible? I'm certain that the screen has to be compatible, but what about the CPU motherboard and graphics card? Is there any information on this?

Joe42 · 17 Jul 2006 at 16:09

Its an absolute minefield, and i have seen a few guides that explain a lot of it, i'll see if i can find one.

As far as i know the main thing you need is hdcp/hdmi. This can work over dvi, some monitors have it and some graphics cards have it. Some graphics cards with hdmi connectors will be on the market soon.

You need a complient graphics card and monitor, and i think thats it.

Edit:
Heres a nice article on hdmi on graphics cards and monitors.

We have two bad pieces of news for you. Which one do you want first?

- The first is that almost all monitors sold up until now (CRT and TFT) won´t be capable of displaying HD movies.

- The second is that graphic cards suffer from the same problem.

The origin of this mess is a new indispensable norm called HDCP, for High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection.

Heres a lengthy wikipedia article on drm.
Its a generic term, so you might want to look more specifically at the article on hdcp here, and hdmi here.

MetalStorm · 18 Jul 2006 at 02:02

Thanks very much for the reply, I would like to say that its cleared a few things but by the sounds of it, its going to be a while before we start seeing actual DRM compatible hardware.

Energize · 18 Jul 2006 at 03:07

DRM is just another waste of effort as usual, there isn't a single system that hasn't been perfectly bypassed today and the new drm being implemented will be cracked or bypassed as well. Companies need to realise the best way of stopping piracy is reasonable prices, it's hilarious that they waste loads of money on a drm system which is cracked days after release and then lose even more money from pirating after that because of their own greed.

Joe42 · 18 Jul 2006 at 11:55

I hate drm as much as anyone else, but the point is without it you may not be able to play blu-ray or hd-dvd movies, and if you have just gone and bought a tv or monitor without the relevant standards you won't be very happy.

MetalStorm · 18 Jul 2006 at 23:38

Energize said:
DRM is just another waste of effort as usual, there isn't a single system that hasn't been perfectly bypassed today and the new drm being implemented will be cracked or bypassed as well. Companies need to realise the best way of stopping piracy is reasonable prices, it's hilarious that they waste loads of money on a drm system which is cracked days after release and then lose even more money from pirating after that because of their own greed.

I'm sure DRM will be cracked and for it to be possible to make copies of the films, but I think the point is that to circumvent the DRM is difficult enough to put a lot of people off and quite expensive as it will have to be done with special hacked hardware.

Joe42 · 18 Jul 2006 at 23:59

The stupid thing about all this drm and anti piracy rubbish is the real serious pirates can crack it, and the paying consumers have to put up with it.

No anti piracy or drm will stop a determined pirate, but it annoys the hell out of paying consumers like us.

Sadly, the people who dream up this rubbish haven't a clue, as usual.

warnea1984 · 19 Jul 2006 at 06:56

The DRM in the next gen formats won't be enabled for a few years, as far as i am aware its up to the content creators to enforce DRM.

If i am right a few movie companies have stated that they wont be using DRM until the end of 2008 when all hardware on the market it compatiable, also i think they understand how many un-compatible pieces of equipment are out there and its just not worth the customer backlash if they enforce DRM to begin with.