DIRECTV HDTV RECEIVERS HAVE ANTICOPY FEATURE
Ability of DirecTV receivers for DTV to downgrade HDTV signal to 480i at request of content owners fearful of unauthorized copying is potentially embarrassing for CEA, which is battling cable industry over copy protection demands for HDTV, officials said. Copy Generation Management System (CGMS) covers all brands selling DTV-enabled DirecTV satellite receivers. Hollywood content owners fear that consumers will use high-quality analog component video (Y-Pb-Pr or RGB) outputs on receivers to make copies on digital recorders. DirecTV wouldn’t comment.
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DirecTV receivers use CGMS codes to block HDTV 1080i or 720p signal from component video output. CGMS codes can permit unlimited copying, recording single copy or prohibit any copying. When DirecTV invokes no-copy provision at content owner’s request, receiver shuts off HD signal on DTV display and on-screen message informs viewer that only SDTV 480i image is available (CD Jan 28 p8). Movie industry similarly tried in past to limit HDTV quality on high-resolution LCD monitors that take direct digital video signal from PCs. But PC industry balked when studios suggested limiting DTV display to 640x480 VGA resolution. Instead, technical groups are working on system that would lock HDTV display to monitor and prevent passthrough to recording devices or Internet.
DirecTV downgrade function was only copy protection method available that could allay content owners’ fears, and thereby obtain HD programming for DirecTV, manufacturers told us last week. In future, encrypted digital connections should be available, such as Data Transmission Content Protection, Digital Visual Interface, Extended Conditional Access (XCA). Vendors said it was hoped that those methods would eliminate stopgap measure of downgrading HDTV picture. “As soon as everything is resolved on copy protection, picture quality will not drop down to 480i from 1080i,” Hitachi Exec. Vp Gary Bennett said. Others told us existing receivers with CGMS couldn’t be changed, but said content owners weren’t likely to request picture downgrade once more secure digital copy protection was in place on future DTV hardware.
Bennett and others, including CEA, conceded that potential for downgrading DTV’s display conflicted with CE industry’s longstanding position that nothing should impair or detract from functionality of products consumers purchase. “Yes, we do have concerns about selling consumers an HD device and they don’t get HD when they turn on the set. Those people aren’t going to be calling Burbank, they'll be phoning us,” Thomson spokesman said. “We have the same concern about cable downgrading the signal to 480p and saying ‘That’s good enough.’ It’s a very slippery slope to approach.” CEA spokesman concurred: “This demonstrates the power of the content community, that they are able to withhold content and put service providers and manufacturers in a tough position that’s not in the interest of consumers.”
DirecTV situation is “harbinger of things to come” with digital recording on DVD and PVR hard discs, Thomson spokesman said. “Consumers have to get their hands around the idea the rules in the digital age will be different. There are going to be a lot of angry people.” He said legislative action might be needed on home recording and copy protection: “The concerned parties seem too far apart, and I don’t believe the FCC can do it. There’s got to be a congressional mandate to clear the air here.”
“It shows a critical need to address these issues in a way that balances copyright with the established recording rights on consumers,” CEA spokesman said. “This clearly needs to go to a legislative solution. I suspect we'll see some action on the Hill this year.”