HD-DVD Processing Key

The HD-DVD processing key which allows for unrestricted disc to disc copying of copyrighted work has been cracked in just about a month after the release of HD-DVD. (High Definition DVD)

It is a long 32-bit encryption key which has over 1,600,000 google page results (as of May 6, 2007). The key which circulated like a wild brushfire, has been a source of controversy. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is definitively pissed off and are suing anyone who posts it even though it still takes some skill to actually use it.

Although you can't copyright a hexadecimal string, its the whole idea that this string can be used to thwart copy-protection on work that can be protected by copyright.

Lesson #1: The MPAA should take this as a lesson and realize by putting stuff viewable on personal computers, there will ALWAYS be a way to thwart copy-protection. That's the nature of data. Always has been and always will be. The only foolproof way of protection is a proprietary player with proprietary media that cannot be accessed on computers. (Paraphrased by Leo Laporte, TWIT #96 May 6, 2007).