Is AACS delayed again for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc?

[Crossbar]

It looks like someone is stalling the standard for content preotection on HD-DVD and Blu-ray Discs.
Reportedly, at the the meeting of the AACS LA last Friday, the group, which had hoped to resolve the final specifications of the new Advanced Access Content System (AACS) for next-generation high-definition optical discs, did not reach an agreement. Instead, it is speculated that an important member of the Blu-ray Disc Association is still voicing concerns about the interaction of AACS and the additional BD+ protection for Blu-ray movies. The next meeting is scheduled for February 23rd and 24th.
....
....NEC, Pioneer, Samsung, and Toshiba are eagerly awaiting the specifications so they can implement AACS in their equipment as each company is planning on launching players in the coming months. Toshiba is supposed to launch HD DVD in March.
http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/howto/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=180202479

Could that important member be Sony?

[VG Aficionado]

Why do I have the feeling PS3 could be slightly delayed because of this? I'm sure Sony bosses including Kutaragi will make sure to solve this ASAP though.

And if a delay should happen, that's the price for a really next-gen HD system.

[markjensen]

If this is just a softwareproblem, couldn't they just release a firmware update, when the "problems" with AACS are solved?

[VG Aficionado]

If this is just a softwareproblem, couldn't they just release a firmware update, when the "problems" with AACS is solved?I'm not sure about this, but I'm afraid if they did that, the first PS3 consoles would need a firmware update to actually be able to play Blu-ray movies. I mean, if the Blu-ray specification for movies isn't 100% complete by PS3 launch, studios won't want Sony to release a Blu-ray player that doesn't support AACS fully. So there are three possibilities (as far as I can see):

1 - This is solved on time and PS3 launches according to schedule.

2 - PS3 has to be delayed because of this.

3 - PS3 launches according to schedule but the first batch of consoles won't play Blu-ray movies.

[Crossbar]

I'm not sure about this, but I'm afraid if they did that, the first PS3 consoles would need a firmware update to actually be able to play Blu-ray movies. I mean, if the Blu-ray specification for movies isn't 100% complete by PS3 launch, studios won't want Sony to release a Blu-ray player that doesn't support AACS fully. So there are three possibilities (as far as I can see):

1 - This is solved on time and PS3 launches according to schedule.

2 - PS3 has to be delayed because of this.

3 - PS3 launches according to schedule but the first batch of consoles won't play Blu-ray movies.

If "Toshiba is supposed to launch HD DVD in March" I think these issues can be implemented very quickly when they are settled. The same for Sony.

The question is when do Sony plan to start mass production and start stock-piling PS3:s to have a couple of millions ready at launch.

I doubt they want to require the consumers to do a firmware upgrade, but it's not impossible. The early PSX units required that as I remember it, but that wasn't the same volumes as we are talking about now.

[Sephiroth_VII]

PS3updates, made a pretty good point:
No word yet about whether or not this affects the PS3's proposed spring launch. Theoretically Sony could apply the software via firmware update or on Blu-Ray movies (just like with the PSP and its UMD updates), but that might be playing with fire as people might simply decide to forgo upgrades in favor of less secure and more pliable firmware.This has been seen before, and sony would probably try to avoid the hacking.

[Viper]

Not everyone has net connection so firmware that way isn't 100% effective.

The firmware upgrade would need to be added to every single BD movie published.

I don't think it will take much longer to finalized the AACS so any delay of the PS3 will probably not be a major one. Besides it would allow for more stock to be amassed for initial shipping, developers would get a little more time to tweak, etc...

[VG Aficionado]

Yeah, a little delay wouldn't bother me much considering there mustn't be many games almost ready for launch.

Anyway, I hope I'll see PS3 in Europe before the end of the year.

[xbdestroya]

I think of your choices VG, the one I would say is most likely is #2 - delay.

@Crossbar: I doubt it's Sony being the member dragging it's feet, afterall they've had a key role in shaping this thing from the very beginning. It's probably one of the movie studios or HP.

PS - Also note that if the AACS doesn't get finalized ASAP, I don't see Toshiba launching HD-DVD in March.

[Crossbar]

PS - Also note that if the AACS doesn't get finalized ASAP, I don't see Toshiba launching HD-DVD in March.
Who would benefit most from that?

[xbdestroya]

Who would benefit most from that?

Well actually, now that you mention it I could think of a couple of different parties, either on the Blu-ray side or Microsoft. Hmmm... so purposeful delay, it's an interesting theory.

[Crossbar]

Well actually, now that you mention it I could think of a couple of different parties, either on the Blu-ray side or Microsoft. Hmmm... so purposeful delay, it's an interesting theory.
Maybe we can rule out Microsoft from this:
..it is speculated that an important member of the Blu-ray Disc Association is still voicing concerns..

[xbdestroya]

Very true.

[cliffbo]

this news has just dampened my optimism. i think we are looking at why sony aren't making any promises yet. oh dear...:(

[VG Aficionado]

High-def camps OK AACS
On track for March launch, HD DVD starts promo tour
By Paul Sweeting 2/16/2006

FEB. 16 | A critical hurdle to the launch of both the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats was cleared late Wednesday when negotiators reached agreement on an interim license for the AACS copy-protection system slated to be used by both high-definition formats, sources involved in the discussions said.

The interim agreement will permit hardware makers and disc replicators in both format camps to obtain the secret encryption keys needed to start pressing discs and shipping players capable of reading the discs.

Without such an agreement, it would have been nearly impossible for HD DVD backers to meet their planned late-March launch date, dealing the format a potentially devastating blow.

Blu-ray hardware makers Samsung and Pioneer plan to start shipping players in May, a date that also would be in peril if an agreement wasn’t reached soon.

Negotiators worked feverishly over the past several days to hammer out enough agreement to let both sides’ launch plans go forward, after efforts to reach a final agreement broke down last Friday without a deal.

Details of the interim agreement are tentatively slated to be announced Feb. 21, according to sources with knowledge of the plans.

On Wednesday, HD DVD’s principal developer, Toshiba Corp., unveiled plans for a 40-city retail and media tour to showcase the new format and build momentum for the launch.

The tour kicks off Feb. 22 in New York and Paramus, N.J., followed by stops in Boston; Chicago; San Francisco; Washington, DC and Los Angeles, among other cities.

The first HD DVD titles are slated to arrive March 28 from Warner Home Video.

Warner officials were not immediately available for comment.

Although both the Blu-ray Disc Assn. and the DVD Forum agreed to adopt AACS (Advanced Access Content System) as the primary copy-protection scheme for their respective high-def formats, efforts to negotiate final terms and conditions for implementing the technology have faltered, often amid bitter recriminations among AACS member companies.

The technology was co-developed by Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Co., which will jointly oversee licensing through the AACS Licensing Authority (AACS-LA).

Although the basic workings of how the system encrypts video content and decrypts it on playback were settled fairly quickly, disagreements have arisen over issues such as the sorts of video outputs AACS-compliant players will be permitted to have and whether they must respect region coding on the discs.

Among the more contentious issues has been implementation of the “managed-copy” requirement for AACS-encrypted discs.

Under rules generally agreed on by the eight members of the consortium, all AACS-encrypted discs must permit users to “rip” the content to a hard drive under carefully controlled conditions.

The provision is regarded as essential by Microsoft and Intel, which hope to integrate the new formats into larger digital home networks based on their technology.

Microsoft, in particular, is keen to include managed-copy capability in Vista, the next generation of its Windows operating system expected to arrive later this year.

Although the studios have agreed to managed copy in principal, they are concerned that it could become a tool for pirates if not carefully controlled.

The issue was further complicated when the Blu-ray Disc Assn. agreed last year to adopt an additional layer of copy protection for its discs. Known as BD+, that additional copy protection was being aggressively promoted by 20th Century Fox.

Although Fox is not a member of AACS, the decision to adopt BD+ split the consortium, which includes members from both camps.

Microsoft and Intel were concerned that the operation of BD+, which is not under the jurisdiction of AACS-LA, could interfere with consumers’ ability to view their high-def discs over a home network.

Blu-ray companies have strongly disputed those claims, accusing Microsoft of concocting the issue in order to delay completion of the Blu-ray format specs.

Microsoft has emerged as a strong backer of HD DVD and is locked in a fierce battle with Blu-ray developer Sony for dominance of the next-generation videogame market.

Sony plans to incorporate Blu-ray technology into its PlayStation 3 game consoles, which will be pitted against Microsoft’s Xbox 360 platform. A delay in approving AACS for Blu-ray could upset Sony’s PlayStation launch plans.

It was unclear on Thursday whether the interim agreement resolves the managed-copy dispute, or if negotiators found a way to defer the issue while launch plans go ahead on an interim basis.

Microsoft officials declined to comment.

Other sources indicated that the first-generation players from both camps are not designed to provide managed-copy capability, so it would be possible to issue those players with decryption keys even if no final agreement had been reached on ripping.

Link: Videobusiness (http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6308373.html)

:)