[mythtv-users] OT: FCC adopts 'plug and play' cable for TVs

[Joseph A. Caputo]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org]On Behalf Of
> linux at keithandjill.com
> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2003 3:45 PM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] OT: FCC adopts 'plug and play' cable for TVs
>
>
> Look for DMCA lawsuits against the first person who
> reverse-engineers the encryption cards to
> allow Linux boxes access to content.  Just like DeCSS and DVDs.

Not necessarily; it really wouldn't require any reverse engineering.  If TV
manufacturers can use the technology, then so can TV-tuner card
manufacturers.  All it requires is for somebody like Hauppauge to come to
market with a tuner card that has a socket for the 'decryption card' from
your cable provider.  You'd still need to *get* the card from your cable
provider; you'd just be plugging it into a PCI adapter instead of your TV.
All you'd need on the Linux side would be a driver for the new card.

Now, if someone reverse-engineered the decrypter card so that you didn't
need it (i.e., replaced it with a software library), then yeah, that would
run afoul of the DMCA.

-JAC