Audio Video News

It had to happen sooner or later. The secondary layer of digital rights management that protects Blu-ray discs, known as BD+, has been hacked.

BD+ is not the only form of DRM in Blu-ray. The format also uses AACS, as does HD DVD. AACS has been repeatedly hacked, with encryption keys for specific HD DVD titles posted on the net. But this is the first time BD+ has shown a crack in its digital armor.

The happy hackers in question are associated with Slysoft, maker of the AnyDVD and CloneDVD applications. If the report is true, Slysoft may have a similar BD-copying program for sale by year-end. Legal battles are likely to ensue.

Slysoft's Giancarlo Bettini makes the anti-DRM argument: "The more restrictions, pressures and protection measures that are applied to limit the functionality of a thing, the fewer sales that will result, not more."

I don't buy it. BD and HD DVD are both struggling formats, and one of the things they're struggling for is the acceptance of Hollywood. If the movie studios aren't confident in the ability of BD or HD DVD to protect their intellectual property, they'll have less incentive to release the gems of their catalogues in these formats. For videophiles, this is bad news.