Quote Originally Posted by Mizicke5273 View Post
This has already been hacked.

And I think your talking about the HDCP or what ever it is. Where your video card and monitor have to be certified to play HD content on a HD drive. This is not Vista's falut as far as I remember, but the MPAA's, just like not being able to upconvert sd dvds through a component connection on a standalone dvd player. Your forced to use the HDMI connection.

This HDCP only applies to "retail" HD content. And there are ways around it. XP also has to comply to it, as it applies to hardware and software, not the OS.

Hmmmm......

Does this mean the data stream remains encrypted until it hits the monitor? More likely, the "certification" means that the hardware and software by agreement won't allow the data to be diverted to anything but the monitor. The OS is required to report any uncertified hardware or software present to the drive, which then won't play?

From what I read, hacks involve modifying the OS reporting system for uncertified drivers to report that none are present. They seem to pursue hacks in this area pretty ruthlessly.

Does this mean Linux and other OS's without mechanisms for driver signing and reporting will be unable to play protected content? I assume such protections are built directly into the hardware drives or cable interface cards.