2012-12-21-343

AACS Copy Protection Standard For DVDs

A group of high-profile technology companies and movie studios have joinedforces to create a new copy protection standard for DVDs that could allowhigh-definition movies to be copied and used inside home networks. DubbedAdvanced Access Content System, or AACS, the technology would replace theanticopying technology that now protects ordinary DVDs, but it would be focusedon next-generation, high-definition discs. The group behind the technologyincludes IBM, Intel, Warner Bros., Disney, Microsoft, Sony and Panasonic, aswell as Toshiba.

Unlike today's technology, which allows movies to be played only inauthorized DVD players, AACS would potentially allow people to store copies of amovie on home computers and watch it on other devices connected to a network--oreven transfer it to a portable movie player. Like CSS, the new AACS technologywould be added to a disc as it is created and would require specific hardware orsoftware to have the "key" to unlock the content on the disc. Technologyspecifications and licenses ready later this year and will provide licenses toall content, technology or consumers electronics companies.