Comments on: Breaking the Code http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:15:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: dooley http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31003 dooley Fri, 17 Dec 2004 01:08:24 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31003 <i>"According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which developed the encryption that protects the S-VIEW disc, it would take a computer faster than any existing today approximately 149 trillion years to crack the key."</i> Sounds like classic cryptographic snake-oil to me. 1) '149 trillion years'... if you're trying to brute-force the key (presumably they have a really big key-length). There are probably other attacks which can be made. If they are relying on 'super secret' algorithms, or even algorithms embedded in hardware, then they will soon find their algorithms and hardware reverse engineered: there's big money in piracy (not that I would know _>; “According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which developed the encryption that protects the S-VIEW disc, it would take a computer faster than any existing today approximately 149 trillion years to crack the key.”

Sounds like classic cryptographic snake-oil to me.

1) ’149 trillion years’… if you’re trying to brute-force the key (presumably they have a really big key-length). There are probably other attacks which can be made. If they are relying on ‘super secret’ algorithms, or even algorithms embedded in hardware, then they will soon find their algorithms and hardware reverse engineered: there’s big money in piracy (not that I would know _>;

]]> By: Doug Halsted http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31002 Doug Halsted Mon, 13 Dec 2004 14:49:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31002 The DVD player has to have a way to send the signal to your TV, such as a cable or S-video plug. Hook a VCR or DVD+R to the "special" DVD, then the TV to the recording device and have it record on channel 3 or 4 (or whatever channel the DVD player uses). The DVD player has to have a way to send the signal to your TV, such as a cable or S-video plug. Hook a VCR or DVD+R to the “special” DVD, then the TV to the recording device and have it record on channel 3 or 4 (or whatever channel the DVD player uses).

]]> By: Keith http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31001 Keith Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:03:47 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31001 According to <a href="http://www.entertainment-news.org/breaking/10271/oscars-screener-slip-up.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a> the secure DVD will not be used until next year. <i> "This is not an all-or-nothing proposition," said Cinea marketing veep Lawrence Roth. "Studios can make decisions now or once the system's out there. We hope it will be used this year, but also expect it will be used in ongoing years."</i> and <i>If the machines are indeed sent out, current DVD owners have the option of experimenting with the new machine -- or leaving it in the box until next year.</i> According to this article the secure DVD will not be used until next year.

“This is not an all-or-nothing proposition,” said Cinea marketing veep Lawrence Roth. “Studios can make decisions now or once the system’s out there. We hope it will be used this year, but also expect it will be used in ongoing years.”

and

If the machines are indeed sent out, current DVD owners have the option of experimenting with the new machine — or leaving it in the box until next year.

]]> By: richard mcenroe http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31000 richard mcenroe Sun, 12 Dec 2004 18:14:48 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-31000 All well and good, but let's not get away from the important issue of persuading Roger to use his clout to get <i>Zapped! 3</i> made... All well and good, but let’s not get away from the important issue of persuading Roger to use his clout to get Zapped! 3 made…

]]> By: Charlie (Colorado) http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30999 Charlie (Colorado) Sun, 12 Dec 2004 14:11:57 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30999 As for DeCSS, I'd post one here, but the really short ones just look like line noise. However, you may find <a href="http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/DeCSS/Gallery/" rel="nofollow">Tourestsky's DeCSS Gallery</a> amusing. My favorite is <a href="http://decss.zoy.org/" rel="nofollow">#40, DeCSS the Movie</a>, which is a (gigantic!) MPEG running the code in a 30's-style credits scroll. I've got a DeCSS t shirt. As for DeCSS, I’d post one here, but the really short ones just look like line noise. However, you may find Tourestsky’s DeCSS Gallery amusing.

My favorite is #40, DeCSS the Movie, which is a (gigantic!) MPEG running the code in a 30′s-style credits scroll.

I’ve got a DeCSS t shirt.

]]> By: Lem http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30998 Lem Sun, 12 Dec 2004 05:20:31 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30998 OOPS, sorry about that. Here is the Times story (click Lem) OOPS, sorry about that.

Here is the Times story (click Lem)

]]> By: Lem http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30997 Lem Sun, 12 Dec 2004 05:18:16 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30997 Disposable DVD’S! I guess it was inevitable. Technology’s envelope is pushing an ever shorter product lifetime cicle. Disposable is as short as we can make it right now. Although the DVD does have a disadvantage – “Unopened, Mr. Arnold said, a Flexplay disc can retain its "freshness" for at least a year. Unfortunately, many movies cannot make that claim.” Click Lem for the Dec. 2nd NYT article. Funny, usually the Times charges for old stories. Disposable DVD’S! I guess it was inevitable.

Technology’s envelope is pushing an ever shorter product lifetime cicle. Disposable is as short as we can make it right now.

Although the DVD does have a disadvantage ‚Äì ‚ÄúUnopened, Mr. Arnold said, a Flexplay disc can retain its “freshness” for at least a year. Unfortunately, many movies cannot make that claim.‚Äù

Click Lem for the Dec. 2nd NYT article.

Funny, usually the Times charges for old stories.

]]> By: Pat Curley http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30996 Pat Curley Sun, 12 Dec 2004 04:06:45 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30996 If Hollywood had any sense they'd get over the fact that somebody somewhere is watching their movies for free. It's a time-consuming process that most people would rather not bother with; it's easier to run down to Blockbuster and rent it for a weekend. Remember when duped tapes were going to be the death of Hollywood? And besides, if Microsoft, the biggest software company in the world, can't protect their products, what chance does Hollywood have. If Hollywood had any sense they’d get over the fact that somebody somewhere is watching their movies for free. It’s a time-consuming process that most people would rather not bother with; it’s easier to run down to Blockbuster and rent it for a weekend. Remember when duped tapes were going to be the death of Hollywood?

And besides, if Microsoft, the biggest software company in the world, can’t protect their products, what chance does Hollywood have.

]]> By: Charlie (Colorado) http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30995 Charlie (Colorado) Sun, 12 Dec 2004 03:35:15 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30995 Whether it's $30 or $50, it's trivial compared to what the majors will spend pushing the various films. In fact, cheap DVD players are getting socheap that I'm amazed they don't give them away free with some of the box sets. Sort of free-razor, sell the expensive blades. Whether it’s $30 or $50, it’s trivial compared to what the majors will spend pushing the various films.

In fact, cheap DVD players are getting socheap that I’m amazed they don’t give them away free with some of the box sets. Sort of free-razor, sell the expensive blades.

]]> By: Roger http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30994 Roger Sun, 12 Dec 2004 03:01:36 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/12/11/breaking-the-code/#comment-30994 For the record, the Cinea DVD player plays non-encrypted DVDs perfectly well. Also, I don't really know who paid for them. It is certainly not the Academy itself. The Screeners are sent by the studios that distribute them, so I assume some combine of the studios or the MPAA itself, paid for the machines. I agree with Charlie above that the cost was not great, but I would put it closer to $50 plus shipping. For the record, the Cinea DVD player plays non-encrypted DVDs perfectly well. Also, I don’t really know who paid for them. It is certainly not the Academy itself. The Screeners are sent by the studios that distribute them, so I assume some combine of the studios or the MPAA itself, paid for the machines. I agree with Charlie above that the cost was not great, but I would put it closer to $50 plus shipping.

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