Blu-ray discs to adopt robust content protection

In a move to protect against illegal copying and large scale piracy, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has adopted one of the most comprehensive content management systems employed on an optical disc format.

The Blu-ray content management system includes three primary components: Advanced Access Content System (AACS); BD+, a Blu-ray-specific enhancement for content protection renewability; and ROM Mark, designed to guard against mass production piracy or the mass duplication and sale of unauthorized copies of pre-recorded media.

AACS is a content management considered many times more powerful than that used in DVD. AACS enables new consumer usage models around network functionality and internet connectivity including managing copies, in an authorized and secure manner.

ROM Mark is a new technology designed specifically to thwart large scale, mass production piracy. It embeds a unique and undetectable identifier in pre-recorded BD-ROM media such as movies, music and games. While invisible to consumers, this ROM Mark can only be mastered with equipment available to licensed BD-ROM manufacturers, essentially preventing unauthorized copies of a disc.

The Blu-ray Disc Association also adopted "BD+", a Blu-ray Disc specific programmable renewability enhancement that gives content providers an additional means to respond to organized attacks on the security system by allowing dynamic updates of compromised code. With these enhancements, content providers have a number of methods to choose from to combat hacks on Blu-ray players.

Moreover, BD+ affects only players that have been attacked, as opposed to those that are vulnerable but haven't been attacked and therefore continue to operate properly.

"The level of unauthorized copying and industrial piracy associated with DVD not only jeopardizes studios and other content creators, but also results in increased costs and limited flexibility for consumers," said Maureen Weber, general manager of Hewlett Packard's Optical Storage Solutions, in a statement. "It is good news for everyone that the BDA has adopted a series of measures that gets it right for the next disc format."

- EE Times