[mythtv-users] Open Source Linux driver for Hauppauge HD PVR 2 (1080p over HDMI) released!

[R. G. Newbury]

On 09/04/15 09:33 AM, Matt Emmott wrote:
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 4:05 PM, Eric Sharkey <eric at lisaneric.org
> <mailto:eric at lisaneric.org>> wrote:
>
>     On Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 1:37 PM, Full Name <ritonak at myway.com
>     <mailto:ritonak at myway.com>> wrote:
>     > Hi,
>     >
>     > Hauppauge has released an open source Linux driver for its HD PVR 2 model 1512, capable of capturing a 1080p video stream over HDMI.
>
>     The "over HDMI" part is mostly useless for MythTV's purposes.  You
>     can't use that with an STB, since the HDPVR2 doesn't support
>     encryption and nearly all cable STB's HDMI outputs are encrypted.
>
>
> An HDMI splitter will negotiate the initial encryption and pass the
> stream to its outputs unencrypted. I believe this is how gamers capture
> recordings from their Xbox and PS4 consoles.

Are you actually *sure* about that? Or just repeating something which 
you have read.
Because my understanding of HDCP (over HDMI or otherwise) is that HDCP 
compliance is required in order for an encrypted stream to be passed 
through.

Otherwise, of course, owning an HDCP splitter would be a felony breach 
of the DMCA anti-circumvention sections, in the USA, and importing or 
selling one would be breach of Section 41.1 of the Copyright Act in Canada.

Section 29.22 of the Copyright Act Canada, provides that 'it is not an 
infringement of copyright' to make a private copy from a authorized copy 
for private use.

But like the US, a Canadian is subject to civil action for circumventing 
a technological protection measure. Presumably, owning an HDMI splitter 
which did not comply with HDCP passthrough, in Canada, is not illegal. 
But you have to deal with criminals to buy one! And it would be a civil 
breach of copyright rights to use one.

(The dilemma involved in parsing the right provided in section 29.22 
against section 41.1 is .... left to the student for independent study).


Note that in  discussing this HDMI is an electrical/physical standard 
for the plugs/sockets and the data stream, while HDCP is an added 
protocol where the transmitter and receiver confirm the right of the 
receiver to receive the encrypted stream *and will comply with required 
encryption standards*.  An unencrypted stream can be transmitted over 
any HDMI link, but HDCP requires the receiver to be HDCP compliant. Not 
that HDCP cannot be broken.... it was broken 15 years ago!

G.