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Another reason to pirate: High Definition Content Protection (HDCP)

News is trickling in that the new DisplayPort has a little surprise for unibody MacBook users: High Definition Content Protection (HDCP).   Apparently the Apple TV also includes this feature.  Technically it works across DisplayPort, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF), or Unified Display Interface (UDI) connections so any machines can be governed by this technology. 

The technology is meant to block playing on unauthorized displays but it is hard to see how this is supposed to prevent piracy.  This is undoubtedly motivated by the studios trying to keep a hold of their content, not by Apple. (don’t like? share)

The problem is that VGA isn’t one of the technologies that this supports and an Ars reader was projecting using this far from dead technology.  The result?  He can’t play a movie he has purchased that is covered by FairPlay. 

So all of you with VGA displays are assed out on iTunes content?  We’ll see how Apple responds to this "situation".  In the meantime, there is always…

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