The FCC has approved 13 digital output protection technologies and recording methods that can be used under its broadcast flag order.
The broadcast flag is supposed to protect digital broadcast television from “the threat of mass, indiscriminate redistribution.” Several consumer groups are attempting to block its use.
The FCC’s order provides that review and approval of these technologies will be made on a transport-by-transport or media-by-media basis, given “the significant technical and licensing changes that can result when a technology is mapped to a new transport or media.”
On the approved list were: MagicGate Type-R for Secure Video Recording for Hi-MD Hardware (Sony); MagicGate Type-R for Secure Video Recording for Memory Stick PRO Software (Sony); MagicGate Type-R for Secure Video Recording for Hi-MD Software (Sony); and MagicGate Type-R for Secure Video Recording for Memory Stick PRO Hardware (Sony).
Also approved were SmartRight (from Thomson); Vidi Recordable DVD Protection System (Philips Electronics North America and Hewlett-Packard); High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (Digital Content Protection); Content Protection recordable Media for Video Content (4C Entity); TiVoGuard Digital Output Protection Technology (TiVo); Digital Transmission Content Protection (Digital Transmission Licensing Administration); Helix DRM Trusted Recorder (RealNetworks); Windows Media Digital Rights Management (Microsoft); and D-VHS (Victor Company of Japan - JVC).
