Digg users revolt


by Omar May 2, 2007 fileunderFound in digg


The encryption key that unlocks all HD-DVD movies and allows them to be ripped and copied was recently discovered and has made its rounds across the Internet. In a futile attempt to put the cat back in the bag, the AACS association that is responsible for developing the security technology has sent cease and desist letters to many websites that have published, or even contained a link to the key.

Digg is one of those websites that received a C&D and as a result took down some stories that referenced the key. Tonight the community of Digg is staging a mass demonstration and digging tons of stories to the front page all referencing the key. It remains to be seen what the long term effects of this move will be.

Comments

1.  avatar Erik said:

Kevin Rose has rescinded on the cease & desist, and all HD-DVD keys will be published on digg. See:

Digg This: 09-f9-11-02-9d-74-e3-5b-d8-41-56-c5-63-56-88-c0

May 02, 2007 9:30am
2.  avatar Amanie said:

Wow.
May 02, 2007 9:38am
3.  avatar Erik said:

I think it's so funny (and ironic). The AACS wanted to bury the following string...
09:F9:11:02:9D:74:E3:5B:D8:41:56:C5:63:56:88:C0
...but in doing so, they've created the what will soon be the most popular digg story ever, and is simultaneously made it to the top of the StumbleUpon buzz page. It is BY FAR the most popular 32-digit hex string ever.
May 02, 2007 9:48am
4.  avatar KD1964 said:

do you think that the AACS will go bankrupt as a result of this release? I bet they are scrambling to create a new code to protect HD-DVDs.
May 03, 2007 11:57am
5.  avatar Omar said:

Well, I don't think they'll go bankrupt. The barriers to copying high-def movies extend beyond some encryption key, other matters such as the large processing requirements, and the massive storage requirements limit the audience to the nerds. What this is good for is creating an HD-DVD playing software for Linux, that's why this key is so important. Who cares if I know the key, I'm not going to use it! The people that need to know the key have known about it for months. Blu-Ray also has AACS protection, and another protection called BD+ that I THINK isn't being used yet, but probably will be in the near future. Of course it'll only be a matter of time until that gets cracked as well :P
May 03, 2007 12:05pm
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