Adobe's new Flash DRM comes with selective output control

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
> Date: May 12, 2010 9:12:31 AM EDT
> To: List Infowarrior <infowarrior () attrition org>
> Cc: Farber Dave <dave () farber net>
> Subject: Adobe's new Flash DRM comes with selective output control

> Adobe's new Flash DRM comes with selective output control
>
> By Chris Foresman | Last updated about 14 hours ago
>
> http://arstechnica.com/media/news/2010/05/adobes-new-flash-drm-comes-with-selective-output-control.ars
>
> Adobe has rejiggered its DRM software for the Flash platform,  
> combining a number of access control features under the rubric of  
> Flash Access 2.0. The new platform can give content providers all  
> sorts of ways to offer media content securely, including controlling  
> what type of output devices can display the content—in effect, Adobe 
>  it enabling HDCP and broadcast control flags for Flash content.
>
> Adobe is touting the revised Flash Access platform as a way for  
> content providers to reach the widest possible audience (assuming  
> those content providers don't want to provide content for the 86  
> million iPhone OS devices out in the wild) and serving as an easy  
> add-on to its Flash Media Server product. With a new SDK, it can  
> also be integrated with secure downloads and what Adobe is calling  
> HTTP Dynamic Streaming, which is essentially Apple's proposed HTTP  
> Live Streaming standard with an XML-based manifest file (instead of  
> a plain-text playlist file) and which so far only works with Flash  
> Player or Adobe AIR.
>
> If serving secure content to Flash clients only seems like a good  
> business model, however, then you'll probably be glad to know that  
> Adobe has also baked selectable output control right in to Flash  
> Access 2.0. This allows content providers to "specify whether output  
> protection technologies are required to output to external devices."  
> A variety of digital and analog output protection technologies are  
> currently supported, including HDCP, CGMS-A, and Rovi (aka  
> Macrovision) ACP. While Adobe plans to bring support to all  
> platforms, currently the output controls are only available on  
> Windows. However, such controls could limit your ability to connect  
> your connect your computer to a projector or other external display  
> to view secure Flash content.
>
> If there was anything that could possibly make Flash less desirable  
> from a user's perspective, the addition of the worst of draconian  
> DRM capabilities would have to be it. Output control is purely  
> optional, but we suspect that some content providers won't be able  
> to resist the temptation to use it now that it's available. Adobe  
> and/or content providers will likely face some serious blowback if  
> secure Flash content—which probably had to be paid for—suddenly  
> won't play on the numerous non-HDCP displays currently in use.



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