HD-DVD/Blu-Ray processing, media keys found, laid bare

A user of the Doom9 forums has reported that he has found the processing keys, media keys, and Volume IDs of HD-media (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray), on February 11, 2007, each a part of the encryption system HD-media players use. Subsequent posts to the thread to date have helped confirm his findings.

The thread itself contains his step-by-step method of finding the HD-DVD processing keys, building on past efforts and experiences – not to mention revealing the keys themselves for a given HD-DVD title. There are arguments that he has done no wrong under the law, since he’s just revealing the code that is already on the disk and is not trying to circumvent copy protection.

However, the next steps might lead to piracy (and legal trouble). For that reason this article will NOT feature a link-to.

Posts later on indicate that the same technique might work on Blu-Ray titles as well. Reactions in that forum indicate that they’ve laid bare the current HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movie lineup on the market. There is mention that the keys could be changed by Advanced Access Content System (AACS) for future releases, though. Additionally, one forum poster argued that finding the keys on the disc doesn’t necessarily break the DRM Vinci’s Code because AACS could always change the locks.

Still, the discovery is spurring talk of fair use and media backups. Speaking of which, and to clarify any debate about piracy that may follow: the arguments in favor of the discovery of the processing keys do not speak of piracy, but of fair use – the freedom of the buyer of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray titles to play their titles on any player they own, in the format they specify or have (remember, for want of a cable…).

Arguably, that same freedom can be abused, which has led to piracy. It’s the old debate between freedom and responsibility.

Your ethics, your call.

A user of the Doom9 forums has reported that he has found the processing keys, media keys, and Volume IDs of HD-media (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray), on February 11, 2007, each a part of the encryption system HD-media players use. Subsequent posts to the thread to date have helped confirm his findings.

The thread itself contains his step-by-step method of finding the HD-DVD processing keys, building on past efforts and experiences – not to mention revealing the keys themselves for a given HD-DVD title. There are arguments that he has done no wrong under the law, since he’s just revealing the code that is already on the disk and is not trying to circumvent copy protection.

However, the next steps might lead to piracy (and legal trouble). For that reason this article will NOT feature a link-to.

Posts later on indicate that the same technique might work on Blu-Ray titles as well. Reactions in that forum indicate that they’ve laid bare the current HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movie lineup on the market. There is mention that the keys could be changed by Advanced Access Content System (AACS) for future releases, though. Additionally, one forum poster argued that finding the keys on the disc doesn’t necessarily break the DRM Vinci’s Code because AACS could always change the locks.

Still, the discovery is spurring talk of fair use and media backups. Speaking of which, and to clarify any debate about piracy that may follow: the arguments in favor of the discovery of the processing keys do not speak of piracy, but of fair use – the freedom of the buyer of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray titles to play their titles on any player they own, in the format they specify or have (remember, for want of a cable…).

Arguably, that same freedom can be abused, which has led to piracy. It’s the old debate between freedom and responsibility.

Your ethics, your call.