[opendtv] Re: Microsoft and the broadcast flag

  • From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:47:21 -0400

Why would I need to use PBDA?
In any event I just built a new Vista 64 development machine and intend to add OTA/QAM recording capability to it somehow. But I don't intend to be asking any permission to play any protected content. So I'll report how it goes one of these days. 

- Tom


John Willkie wrote:

when you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.  And, technically, you are 
presuming, not assuming.

You are using a bert technique to invert what someone said to support a 
preconceived, badly-thought (or no thinking involved) position.
And, you will find out that you can't use a device on Vista that doesn't support PBDA. But, PBDA 'protection' isn't invoked until after CGMS is encountered in a program stream. 
And, just what is a MSFT device?  They make Zune, Xboxes, I think they still 
make mice. They don't make computers, nor do they make usdio devices.  Was this 
typed after the beginning of happy hour in the Barry household?

That's the only rational explanation for so many errors of thought, perception 
and understanding in such a short post.  Perhaps rationality isn't a 
precondition?

Once again, something is happening here, and you don't know what it is, do you, 
Mr. Jones?

John Willkie


-----Original Message-----

From: Tom Barry <trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Jul 9, 2008 3:45 PM
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [opendtv] Re: Microsoft and the broadcast flag
I assume it is a flag meaning you need a non-MSFT device and/or software to record the stream. 

- Tom

Adam Goldberg wrote:

I confess, I'm not at all clear on what they mean by "broadcast protection
flag". 
I would understand if they wrote about "Broadcast Flag".  Except in this
case they talk about what HBO is doing -- so that's clearly NOT what they
mean.  HBO doesn't broadcast ATSC OTA, so whatever they mean it isn't the
Broadcast Flag (because HBO /cannot/ assert the BF, as it's an A/65-only
construct).

Furthermore, "... indicate that the show is copy protected" means, among
other things, that we're NOT talking about the BF (which does NOT signal
copy protection).

They could be defining "broadcast protection flag" as CGMS={copy never} or
CGMS={copy never | copy once}.  But I dunno.

-----Original Message-----
From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Manfredi, Albert E
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 3:32 PM
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [opendtv] Re: Microsoft and the broadcast flag

There are any number of Microsoft references that show that WM applies
some sort of copy protection filtering for CGMS and Broadcast Flag
encoded TV streams, at least over Vista. But I was looking for something
that stated explicitly that, according to Microsoft, the BF means that
the content must not be copied.

So, even the most unabashed of self-important fools can now understand
that what is transmitted with the BF flag asserted is treated, by
current WMP, as if it were CGMS copy-never.

The result being, even if FOTA DTV broadcasters in principle "don't
intend" the BF to violate the Betamax decision, when playing through
Vista, it does.

--------------------------------
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq/sync.mspx

Q. Why can't I sync some of my TV shows to my device?

A. Television broadcasters can prevent you from synchronizing a show to
a device by setting a "broadcast protection flag" for the show.
Currently, HBO sets the flag for some programming, and other
broadcasters might begin using the flag in the future. If you cannot
sync a certain show to your device, check the program information for
the show on your computer. If the broadcaster has set the broadcast
protection flag, the listing will indicate that the show is
copy-protected.
--------------------------------

Or, to use the 2X4-on-the-head technique, as far as Microsoft is
concerned, the Redistribution Control Descriptor is to be interpreted as
"copy never."

The FCC should perhaps send them a note.

Bert
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--
Tom Barry                  trbarry@xxxxxxxxxxx  



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