Nvidia Macrovision DVD-TV rules forced on consumers

[joepic]

If you are using an Nvidia graphics card and use the software from Nvidia, then you might in combination with certain TV encoders receive an error message when you update the software. According to an article on TheInquirer the software does checks to make sure the encoders comply with Macrovision requirements.

In a note to the latest drivers, Nvidia says: "The BT868 and Conexant CX25870 TV encoders do not support Macrovision. If your graphics card is equipped with one of these TV encoders, then it will not support DVD playback with our 41.09 drivers and above."

But that has caused some consumers to react in alarm. One INQUIRER reader claimed that meant users of equipment that doesn't conform to these Macrovision standards are stuck with drivers beyond the 40.72 level.

He said: "Their [Nvidia] drivers automatically lock all DVD playback, not just TV out, when a non-Macrovision approved tv encoder chip is detected, meaning those that have video cards that contain BT868 and Conexant CX25870 TV encoders".

So this means that will likely have to stick to older drives if you have hardware based on the encoders, else you won't be able to play DVD movies on your PC anymore.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8425

[pharlap]

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