DTV Copy Protection Stalled as MPAA Rejects 5C Licensing Terms
Summary
Negotiations between major film studios and developers of the 5C Digital Transmission Content Protection standard remained unresolved in October 1999, threatening to delay cable-ready DTV receiver rollouts. The MPAA objected not to the technical specification but to licensing terms it claimed would strip content owners of copyright control.
The Series
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DTV Copy Protection Unresolved
Despite ongoing negotiations between the major film studios represented by the Motion Picture Group and the developers of the 5C copyright protection method, a standard for protecting digital material has not yet been agreed upon. This unresolved licensing issue is likely to delay the rollout of the next generation of cable-ready DTV receivers. The copy protection standard – known as the Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) or "5C" – is being supported by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) and the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) for digital set-top boxes and cable-ready TV receivers. The groups also agreed to support inclusion of the IEEE 1394 FireWire® digital interface standard, used to interconnect digital television receivers and set-top boxes. Despite the fact that these groups have endorsed the 5C specification, it is being contested by the major motion picture studios – the very group who says its content is in need of protection. The Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA) has chosen not to back the 5C method because its licensing terms "require [MPAA member companies] to abandon their copyrights" and lose control of how 5C is used, according to a recent letter sent to FCC Chairman William Kennard by MPAA President Jack Valenti. Presently, MPAAs member companies and 5C developers – Hitachi, Intel, Panasonic, Sony and Toshiba – are holding frequent discussions on how to resolve the licensing issues and make sure the concerns of motion picture companies are addressed. Language in the 5C specification allows film distributors to decide on the manner in which the copy protection is applied. The 5C method can be configured in four ways: - copy-never, which does not allow any copies to be made and is for display purposes only - copy-one generation, permits one copy - copy-no-more, which prevents end users from making copies form copies - copy-freely, which poses no restrictions on copying The MPAA wants the content owner to be able to make decisions about how the material is protected and does not want any language specifying who can choose how 5C is applied. "Our problem is not the technical aspects of the specification, but who can dictate which programming can be copied," said Rich Taylor, MPAAs Vice President of Public Affairs. Source: Naina Narayana, TV Technology |
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Alsea Oregon
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