News: by Robin Berger
MPAA leads opposition
LOS ANGELES
Consumers continue to be assured that the promise of digital
technology's "any time, any place" access to the media they crave is
just around the corner -- the wheels are in motion. At the same time,
a considerable backspin continues to be provided by those who
currently control its dissemination -- and fear the boogeyman behind
remote devices.
Yet another tech and media, anti-privacy consortium was formed last
month. This one -- Coral -- includes Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Philips
Electronics, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Samsung, Twentieth
Century Fox, RealNetworks and digital rights management company
InterTrust Technologies. Apple Computer and Microsoft are notably
absent.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, the FCC continues to mediate the fate
of "digital output protection technology and recording method"
providers. The commission certified the following 13 technologies in
August:
* MagicGateType-R (four types from Sony Corp.)
* SmartRight (developed by a conglomerate headed by Thomson)
* Vidi Recordable DBD Protection System (Philips Electronics and
Hewlett-Packard)
* High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (Digital Content
Protection, LLC)
* Content Protection Recordable Media for Video Content (4C, LLC)
* TiVoGuard Digital Output Protection Technology
* Digital Transmission Content Protection (Digital Transmission
Licensing Administration)
* Helix DRM Trusted Recorder (Real)
* Windows Media Digital Rights Management (Microsoft Corp.)
* D-VHS (Victor Company of Japan, aka JVC)
The FCC's docket indicates that these technologies have been under
commission review since at least February, to ensure that content
marked with the Broadcast Flag is protected.
http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/News_Tivo.shtml
Monty Solomon (monty@roscom.com)