New Copy Protection - RFID!

[akrako1]

http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,67556,00.html?tw=rss.TOP

Give Your DVD Player the Finger

By Katie Dean | Also by this reporter

02:00 AM May. 19, 2005 PT

Researchers in Los Angeles are developing a new form of piracy protection for DVDs that could make common practices like loaning a movie to a friend impossible.

University of California at Los Angeles engineering professor Rajit Gadh is leading research to turn radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags into an extremely restrictive form of digital rights management to protect DVD movies.
RFID tags have been called "wireless bar codes" -- though they hold more data -- and are commonly used for things like ID badges or keeping track of inventory in a retail store or hospital.

Though RFID tags are usually read by a wireless data reader, the proposed DVD-protection scheme would make no use of RFID's wireless capabilities.

Rather, the researchers are interested in the ability to write data to the tags, which can't be done on a DVD once it's been burned.

Here's how the system might work:

At the store, someone buying a new DVD would have to provide a password or some kind of biometric data, like a fingerprint or iris scan, which would be added to the DVD's RFID tag.

Then, when the DVD was popped into a specially equipped DVD player, the viewer would be required to re-enter his or her password or fingerprint. The system would require consumers to buy new DVD players with RFID readers.

Gadh said his research group is trying to address the problem of piracy for the movie industry.

"Content owners would like to have extremely tight control on the content so they can maximize revenue," Gadh said. "Users want to move stuff around."

Gadh said the proposed system is "absolutely" more restrictive to users than anti-copying methods already used to protect DVDs.

"By definition this is a restrictive form (of digital rights management)," Gadh said.

Gadh said he could not reveal specifically how the system would work, as it is still in the research stage. A prototype will be available by the end of the summer, he said, and at that point, it will be shopped around to movie studios and technology companies.

"I don't know quite what is going to work in the real world," Gadh said.

Most DVDs are already encrypted with an anti-copying mechanism called Content-Scrambling System. The encryption has been broken, however, and programs to descramble DVDs can be found all over the internet.

DVDs are also "region coded" so that discs sold in the United States, for instance, cannot be played in the United Kingdom. The region coding gives the movie studios control over where and when films are released on DVD.

Ed Felten, a computer science professor at Princeton University, called the proposal the "limit of restrictiveness."

"I think people would find it creepy to give their fingerprint every time they wanted to play a DVD," Felten said. "It's hard to think that would be acceptable to customers."

He said it seems unlikely that people would buy new DVD players with RFID readers in order to purchase DVDs that are less functional.

Privacy advocates have expressed concern about RFID technology because the tags can tie products to individuals, potentially without their knowledge.

Seth Schoen, staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said it's unlikely this DRM plan will be any more effective than others preceding it.

"It only requires one person to break it," Schoen said.

Schoen said this is the "smart cow problem": Once one of the cows opens the gate, the others will follow.

[canadateck]

iris scan

[bugster]

It won't work. It would be illeagl in many countries.

When I buy a product, I have the right to with it as I see fit, including lening it to freinds and relatives or re-seeling it to someone else. This would prevent me from doing many of those things and is therefore illegal.

[INFRATOM]

Ya, they can make one of those and put in everyones body like in Borne Identity so it can communicate with license module so we have to get license for each person watching that movie or other SW per seat!!

[Noahtuck]

used dvd sales would go right down the drain!!
or you would have to give everyone you sold them to your password which would lead to people who have a large used dvd collection to have a huge book of passwords cross referenced with movie titles

We won't even go into fingerprints and iris scans

Good Luck with that one

[Gaskan]

I think Netflix and Blockbuster, might have a problem with that.

[JimJohnD]

If anything like this ever made it I (for one) would simply stop watching Hollyweird's movies. It's not like there arn't healther thing to do than sitting around rotting my brain with the poor quality movies made today anyway. There are alot of independant movie makers out there who would just love to have their work seen. As Hollywood already makes more money on the DVD sales and rentals than on the theater release you have to wonder when enough is enough.

[HatchetMan]

dumb dumb dumb

how could it possibly catch on?
(don't answer that)

[normcar]

When it comes to Hollywood, enough is never enough. They raise prices at the theater, and no one goes, so they complain that "good" films don't get seen. So they have to sell DVDs to break even. The prices are so high (don't even mention popcorn, drinks, etc.) that everyone must choose the small # of films they really want to go to the theater to see. So the studios want to get money for you seeing them at home. They would love to charge you per person per viewing per DVD unit for viewing it in your own home. Perhaps we should start charging them an hourly rate for when they waste our time when they show us really bad movies.

[ROF]

Most people balk at giving grocery stores their address when applying for a grocery savings/check cashing card, so I fail to see how these retailers expect people to have their bio-metrics scanned.

This will never happen, plus it would close a thriving suburban business. AKA. the annual family yard sale.

[sholmes202]

Ever since PLAYER PIANO ROLLS were popular manufacturers have wanted to prevent copying...it never works for long...someone always finds a way to overcome a copy protection scheme...I can think of a half dozen approaches to hacking a video player's firmware to get around this sort of tagging...I would be willing to bet it would be broken within a few days of seeing it's first usage...when will they ever learn?

Holmes

[hudsonf]

The day I have to go through all that just to watch a DVD; is the day I stop buying DVDs.

[ROF]

You aren't alone in that feeling hudsonf.

[MOVIEGEEK]

April Fools!!!
This story is bogus.

[EvilWizardGlick]

Quite a bit after April 1 for WIRED to run the story.
This isn't about copy protection, it's about the promotion of RFID.
First RFID in chain store goods. Next RFID in the national ID. Now this.
The plan is one chip to rule them all ( ok I couldn't resist). Think about a single chip that allows you to walk through the store pick up your goods and walk out all without stoping. The same chip allows you to walk into the doctors office and sit down until called, without ever checking in. The chip lets you cross borders or get on a plane.
The same chip also carries information about your arrests and political affiliations. It has the amount of files you dld ( MS partnered with INTEL) and which were not kosher.
It only takes one generation to accept this stuff as normal.

[SLK001]

Or, everyone could just settle on one password - like "EAT SHIT, HOLLYWOOD". Then we could buy, view, sell, trade, or whatever, to our hearts content.

[RottenFoxBreath]

pmsl,they can go and f*ck right off.

[louthewiz]

What a load of bullshit.

[GabeB]

This must be a late April Fool's joke. Makes absolutely zero sense.

[AlecWest]

At the store, someone buying a new DVD would have to provide a password or some kind of biometric data, like a fingerprint or iris scan, which would be added to the DVD's RFID tag.

Would have to provide??? Right ... and I'm sure stores would love to be put into the position of being Hollywood's police department ... just as I'm sure customers would love to voluntarily submit biometric data. Can you imagine the "fingerprint line" at Blockbuster over the Christmas season ... or the same line at a Walmart???

Even if it did come to that, there's a simple solution. Give out biometric data ... and when the movie cops come to your door, simply say, "I bought it as a gift." They'd ask you who you gave it to and you'd say, "I dropped it in the gift bin at my local Salvation Army thrift store."

As Scotty once said in Star Trek III, "The more they overtake the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."

P.S. This kind of "electronic justice" has already been tried and failed in Oregon. Remember "photo radar" traps? In Oregon, it isn't enough to get a clear photo of a vehicle license plate. The fact that you're the registered owner of the vehicle doesn't mean you were the driver at the time the photo was taken (loaned to kid, wife, friend, etc.). The state has to provide people with a copy of the photo ... and if the photo does not clearly identify the driver's face, all the ticketed person has to say is, "I wasn't driving the car at the time," and they will "write off" the ticket to avoid an embarassing challenge in court. BTW, Oregon has already had its first experience in "masking." Someone was caught by photo radar ... but the photo revealed a driver wearing a gorilla mask (snicker). And so far, there's no move to create a new law in Oregon prohibiting the wearing of masks while driving.

[Hooter Honker]

what would happen to the renting market? Everybody get in line for the fresh copy on Tuesday? Doesn't seem practical to me.

HH

[ybeard]

Yeah, this idea wouldn't kill the chainstores in the business of renting videos would it??? Nah... They're likely also some of the largest purchasers of DVD's as well to stock their stores.

[canadateck]

[deadskullz]

This all sounds satanic RFID's ? then you'll have a camera when you take a piss. That will be the day when I stop watching movies as well.

[smearbrick1]

What's to stop you from entering your password or whatever on someone else's dvd player? Can they get anymore extreme with this stuff?

Check out our newest copy protection method. We've encased the DVD discs in a Titanium Alloy case that is internally coated with Kevlar. As the consumer, you will be unable to open the case or see the DVD disc at any time. Of course, since the disc is in this inpenitrable casing, there is no way to watch the DVD, thus preventing lending, copying, and piracy altogether.

Enjoy!!!!

[e404pnf]

Don't panic - This sort of thing happens all the time with basic scientific research.

If you have a great idea but can't get funding you make an application up that could utilise your technology but you know will in never work in reality. All you need then is a dumb-ass organisation (eg Fox etc) to fund your project.

Once you've spent the £100,000 and the sponsor doesn't see a usable product all you need do is re-brand your idea, and find another willing sponsor.

You'll probably find in a years time this great technology is being suggested as a way to stop mobile phone theft....and the cycle continues... Good luck to them I say, wonder how much money they can screw out of them(!)

- e404pnf

[yoda313]

Hi,

Yeah what about buying on the internet????? How many people are going to buy a retinal scanner just so they can buy a dvd online????

Kevin

[guns1inger]

I am looking for a research grant for a new form of copy protection. It will be universal, protecting HD-DVD, Blu-ray, CD, DVD, VHS, Betamax, Audio Cassette and any future formats yet to be devised. It is called The Glass Booth. Basically, you will go into a store and hire/pruchase a media item of your choice. You will then be ushered to a glass booth, guarded by a large armed gentleman or lady (no discrimination here). You will them partake of your rental or purchase at that time. Once you have finished watching/listening/enjoying your purchase/rental, you will be escorted from the premises. Unfortunately, you will not be able to take the media home with you.

Now, I understand that there is some inconvenience to this process as far as the consumer is concerned. You don't get the same freedom to partake at a time that suits you. You don't get a tangible asset for your purchase, and renters of predominatly adult entertainment . . .well . . . anyway.

However I'm sure the average punter will understand that this is the only way hollywood can afford to continue to pay Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman US$30 million a picture to act badly and look insincere. A small price I'm sure you will agree.

So who wants to invest ?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

It would be a fairly simple matter of writing my password on the disc with a Sharpie...
something I would probably do anyway, even if I wasn't selling or loaning the disc, because how in the hell would I ever remember the passwords to all the damn DVD's I buy?

[mbellot]

how in the hell would I ever remember the passwords to all the damn DVD's I buy?

Simple.

everyone could just settle on one password - like "EAT SHIT, HOLLYWOOD". Then we could buy, view, sell, trade, or whatever, to our hearts content.