[mythtv-users] Odds of Linux CableCARD support?

H P Ladds householdwords at gmail.com
Wed Jan 11 22:48:25 UTC 2006


Would it read "DENIED" and "thank you for your $100,000.00"
application fee? Or is that a bogus tale I heard about the cost of
application.





On 1/11/06, Joe Votour <joevph at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> --- H P Ladds <householdwords at gmail.com> wrote:
> > " The cable companies will wind up killing shooting
> >  themselves in the foot if they're not careful.
> > IPTV
> >  over DSL using MPEG-4 is steadily catching up."
> >
> > Will IPTV help us? The consortium of content
> > producers (CableLabs)
> > will still demand that the content be encrypted.
> > Linux and Open Source need not apply for approval?
> >
> > Still, I'm with you, someone shot has themselves in
> > the foot. The
> > content producers just handed control of a large
> > portion of their
> > distribution channel to Microsoft -- I wish them the
> > best of luck in
> > trying to get it back.
> >
> >
> >
>
> <snip>
>
> You've got the purpose of CableLabs confused.  When
> they're not accepting kickbacks, charging a fortune
> for product certification, and constantly changing
> their specifications without incrementing version
> numbers, they are supposed to be the unified voice of
> the cable operators.  They have nothing to do with the
> content producers.
>
> IPTV is not subject to CableLabs approval, at least
> not in it's current incarnation.  In fact, nothing is
> really subject to CableLabs approval (see the number
> of uncertified DOCSIS 1.0 cable modems about five
> years ago), but if you don't get your products
> CableLabs certified, then you likely won't be allowed
> to bid on contracts put forth by the cable operators.
>
> (Yes, I dislike CableLabs, and I don't hide it.  In my
> view, they really are an incompetent and corrupt
> organization.)
>
> That said, open source hardware or software will never
> get CableLabs approval.  CableLabs reserves the right
> to revoke encryption keys on devices if they are
> compromised (and I'm surprised they didn't revoke
> Motorola's keys when a bunch of their modems were
> cracked - but, Motorola is one of the key players in
> CableLabs).
>
> CableLabs is now much more open than it used to be -
> previously the submission documents required
> membership to view, but they are now freely available
> on the CableLabs website.  These documents show some
> of the requirements for security that CableCARD will
> have to meet:
> http://www.opencable.com/downloads/Host_2.0_DCAA.pdf
> http://www.opencable.com/downloads/CHILA.pdf
>
> From the second document:
> As to each of the Host Devices made under this
> Agreement, Licensee covenants to CableLabs as follows:
> (i) The Host Device, at the time manufactured,
> contains no integrated circuit, ROM, RAM, software or
> other device or functionality that:
>   (1) enables copying or recording of Controlled
> Content, other
> than as permitted by the Compliance Rules or
>   (2) interferes with or disables the ability of a
> Cable Operator to communicate with or disable a
> CableCARD or services being transmitted through a
> CableCARD.
> (ii) At the time of manufacture, it will maintain
> control of content copies consistent with copy control
> instructions or the encryption mode indicator bits
> transmitted with digital signals as specified in the
> OpenCable Specifications.
> (iii) At the time of manufacture, it is designed to
> effectively frustrate tampering and reverse
> engineering directed towards defeating copy protection
> requirements in accordance with the Robustness Rules.
> (iv) At the time of manufacture, it will not transmit
> or decode
> Controlled Content received from the cable television
> transmission without proper authorization from the
> Cable Operator.
> (v) As used in this section 9.2(c), "at the time of
> manufacture" shall mean at the time of manufacture
> of the Host Device and shall also include, but is not
> limited to, any subsequent modifications, upgrades,
> downloads, modules, plug-ins, or attachments to such
> Host Device made by or at the direction of Licensee or
> its Affiliates, or otherwise specifically promoted,
> marketed, distributed by or at the direction of
> Licensee or its Affiliates.
> (vi) Licensee shall not service any licensed product
> that it determines to have been modified after
> manufacture to be non-Compliant.
> << End of CableLabs document>>
>
> So, in short, Open Source will get the big red
> "DENIED" stamp on CableCARD.  Our only hope is reverse
> engineering outside of North America where the patents
> and DMCA don't apply.
>
> -- Joe
>
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