25 May 2000

To: cypherpunks-unedited@toad.com, gnu@toad.com
Subject: DVD Audio in July -- who wants to crack it?
Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 02:37:40 -0700
From: John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com>

[These guys never learn that limiting the rights of the consumer who purchases a DVD, beyond the copyright, will *always* invite an antagonistic response from the customers.  It's because PUBLISHERS are stealing rights from CONSUMERS, not the other way around.

Extra points for cracking it before the first public release, for publishing the first algorithm description in plain English and math, for defeating any "cancel access for cracked players" scheme, and for releasing source code simultaneously with binaries.

I recommend limiting large-scale piracy, whether or not you have the capability, until after we win the court cases, though.  Irresponsible actions by a few people make the judges think we are defending theft, when we're really defending consumer rights, competition, and the public domain.  --gnu]

Forwarded-by: Robin Gross <robin@eff.org>
Subject: DVD Audio in July

Consumer electronics giant Matsushita plans to roll out DVD-Audio products in July, seven months after its original target date. At the request of major music companies, the company postponed the introduction of its DVD-Audio line in order to build in a new copyright protection scheme; the original one was cracked by a Norwegian hacker.

The new DVD protection technology was developed by Matsushita in collaboration with Toshiba, Intel and IBM, collectively known as "the 4C." The companies tout the technology's superior multi-key encryption.

The 4C solution may satisfy the needs of music and entertainment companies for the time being, but can it remain secure in an environment where hackers live for the thrill of the kill? As IBM Director of Digital Media Standards Alan Bell acknowledged, "there's no such thing as an uncrackable code."

Email your bets as to how long the security will remain intact to:

editor@webnoize.com