[mythtv-users] Hauppauge HD-PVR will not initially support Linux

[Kisner, Thomas]

>But, to repeat myself once more, there is *no* legal basis for any
>action against Hauppauge.  None.  So all this talk of the industry
>somehow quashing these devices is just, in my mind, pointless fearing
>mongering.  
[snip]
>
>Now, if Congress goes and passes a law making component capture
>devices illegal, then you may have a problem (and it's worth noting
>that Hauppauge may be obligated to apply Macrovision to their output
>under certain circumstances, and if they don't, *then* they may be in
>some legal trouble).  But until then, I see little reason to worry.

I absolutely agree.  This is the first of many such devices, I'm sure.
This coming possibility is why they have the (still unused by anybody)
option available on Blu-ray disks to run only in highly reduced
resolution via the component output to force use of HDMI.

Macrovision Corporation takes the stance that section 1201 of the DMCA
applies to *any* conversion of from Analog to Digital and that ignoring
the Macrovision protection scheme is a violation.  ( See
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2006/08/another-dmca-misuse-macrovision-v-s
ima )

True interpretation or not, I think we'll see some kind of voluntary
compliance from Hauppauge. I'm not sure if that will be embedded in the
firmware of the device or in the Windows driver software/apps, but I'd
bet it's in the firmware.  If my $40 STB DVD recorder refuses to record
a Macrovision encoded VHS tape from 1987, you better believe a $250 box
that could potentially record from a Blu-ray disk in 1080i will have it,
or Macrovision will be after them (although I don't think the DMCA
really applies, they will sue anyway).

This doesn't apply to legitimate Mythtv use unless cable operators turn
on Macrovision on the component output of their STB.  This seems
unlikely, except to the extent that they already do today.