The AACS copy protection group has said that bloggers crossed the line this week when they posted the key that breaks the encryption on many HD DVD discs.
Thousands of websites published the key, which was originally uncovered on Doom9's forum, and it led to a row on popular social bookmarking site Digg, which we reported earlier in the week.
Chairman of the AACS business group, Michael Ayers, told the BBC that most folk cooperated with AACS group to prevent the leak of the key, but went on to say that the row between Digg and its users was "an interesting new twist".
Ayers mentioned that the key has now made appearances on YouTube and it's also on T-Shirts too. "Some people clearly think it's a First Amendment issue. There is no intent from us to interfere with people's right to discuss copy protection. We respect free speech.
"They can discuss the pros and cons. We know some people are critical of the technology.
"But a line is crossed when we start seeing keys being distributed and tools for circumvention. You step outside of the realm of protected free speech then."
He later added that HD DVD copy protection was not broken and the key that was leaked has now been revoked. Before the key was revoked, it allowed users to play some protected HD DVDs with their copy protection removed on two different software players. Ayers said that the leak wouldn't affect hardware players, meaning that software players could and would be patched if they haven't already. However, he admitted that the discs affected by the leak could now be copied regardless.
This is undoubtedly the first round in the war against AACS and the group claims to be ready for the next round. How long will it be before the next round kicks off? Place your bets in the forums.
Thousands of websites published the key, which was originally uncovered on Doom9's forum, and it led to a row on popular social bookmarking site Digg, which we reported earlier in the week.
Chairman of the AACS business group, Michael Ayers, told the BBC that most folk cooperated with AACS group to prevent the leak of the key, but went on to say that the row between Digg and its users was "an interesting new twist".
Ayers mentioned that the key has now made appearances on YouTube and it's also on T-Shirts too. "Some people clearly think it's a First Amendment issue. There is no intent from us to interfere with people's right to discuss copy protection. We respect free speech.
"They can discuss the pros and cons. We know some people are critical of the technology.
"But a line is crossed when we start seeing keys being distributed and tools for circumvention. You step outside of the realm of protected free speech then."
He later added that HD DVD copy protection was not broken and the key that was leaked has now been revoked. Before the key was revoked, it allowed users to play some protected HD DVDs with their copy protection removed on two different software players. Ayers said that the leak wouldn't affect hardware players, meaning that software players could and would be patched if they haven't already. However, he admitted that the discs affected by the leak could now be copied regardless.
This is undoubtedly the first round in the war against AACS and the group claims to be ready for the next round. How long will it be before the next round kicks off? Place your bets in the forums.
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