3 ms·

Where are those libertarian commenters when you need them? This is a classic example of letting the market decide. If there is enough demand for cracking a giv

Where are those libertarian commenters when you need them? This is a classic example of letting the market decide. If there is enough demand for cracking a given disc, then users will pay higher prices for ripping software updates and crackers will put more effort into it. If no one cares about a given disc, then it may never get ripped (but no one cares so it doesn't matter).

mmastrac 17y ago
Aren't disks cracked in batches though? It seems to my (admittedly not as familiar as I'd like) eye that there are releases of BD+ reference code pushed out every few months that make it on to a few dozen titles, big and small. Maybe publishers should release decryption keys for movies after a few months out using something akin to the street-performer protocol. :)
- tptacek 17y ago
  We're probably treading close to the line where Nate can't talk about stuff. I should say that it would seem downright weird to me for them to simply publish the circumvention to a currently unbroken BD+ VM, or unprotection information for any protected title.
- NateLawson 17y ago
  There's really no need to publish keys if they're eventually cracked anyway. If your goal was to undercut sales of ripping software, why not just release a keygen for their product? It would directly reduce their revenue instead of doing something that hurts your own sales more than the attackers. NB: Obviously I'm not advocating this, just trying out a thought experiment.
defen 17y ago
Indeed, except you're talking about a black market with rather severe penalties for those caught participating. Otherwise, you can be sure that what you describe would happen.
- tptacek 17y ago
  DRM and copyright enforcement law are --- for the most part --- orthogonal issues. The RIAA mass enforcement stuff has nothing to do with circumvention.
  - defen 17y ago
    Their mass lawsuits do not. But I was referring to the DMCA...a BD+ cracker (or whatever is would be called) is illegal software in the U.S.
    - tptacek 17y ago
      Research into the BD+ VM isn't illegal. Publishing research isn't illegal. Releasing an easy-to-use circumvention tool is. I don't agree that this is how it should work, but still, we shouldn't tar everyone with the RIAA brush.

mmastrac 17y ago

Aren't disks cracked in batches though? It seems to my (admittedly not as familiar as I'd like) eye that there are releases of BD+ reference code pushed out every few months that make it on to a few dozen titles, big and small. Maybe publishers should release decryption keys for movies after a few months out using something akin to the street-performer protocol. :)

tptacek 17y ago
We're probably treading close to the line where Nate can't talk about stuff. I should say that it would seem downright weird to me for them to simply publish the circumvention to a currently unbroken BD+ VM, or unprotection information for any protected title.
NateLawson 17y ago
There's really no need to publish keys if they're eventually cracked anyway. If your goal was to undercut sales of ripping software, why not just release a keygen for their product? It would directly reduce their revenue instead of doing something that hurts your own sales more than the attackers. NB: Obviously I'm not advocating this, just trying out a thought experiment.

defen 17y ago

Indeed, except you're talking about a black market with rather severe penalties for those caught participating. Otherwise, you can be sure that what you describe would happen.

tptacek 17y ago
DRM and copyright enforcement law are --- for the most part --- orthogonal issues. The RIAA mass enforcement stuff has nothing to do with circumvention.
- defen 17y ago
  Their mass lawsuits do not. But I was referring to the DMCA...a BD+ cracker (or whatever is would be called) is illegal software in the U.S.
  - tptacek 17y ago
    Research into the BD+ VM isn't illegal. Publishing research isn't illegal. Releasing an easy-to-use circumvention tool is. I don't agree that this is how it should work, but still, we shouldn't tar everyone with the RIAA brush.