byte Posted June 6, 2002 Share Posted June 6, 2002 A powerful alliance of technology and entertainment companies agreed Tuesday to a standard for encrypting digital television broadcasts in hopes of preventing the rampant copying of programs over the Internet. The new technology would block consumers from recording future digital broadcasts of popular shows -- such as ``The Tonight Show'' or ``The Osbournes'' -- unless they own recording devices with built-in copyright protection. The new technology represents the latest salvo in Hollywood's escalating battle to curb online piracy. The Broadcast Protection Discussion Group, formed in November by the same industry organization that set the standard for DVD copy protection, approved a 120-page technological blueprint for inserting a ``digital flag'' in over-the-air TV broadcasts. A new generation of receivers equipped with similar technology would detect the flag and prevent users from uploading copyrighted movies or television shows onto Internet file-swapping services. It will be at least a year before such devices would be on the market. More Info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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