Mandatory Managed Copy
Mandatory Managed Copy is part of the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) specification and is supported by both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Mandatory Managed Copy basically means that a consumer will be able to somehow make digital copies of the data on a disc for use with a home theater system, or even make digital copies for portable players. While it is part of the AACS specification it still makes content companies nervous about the problems it could cause.
MMC may be revoked if such studios as Fox have their way with restrictions such as BD+. BD+ is the name given to an experimental Digital Rights Management (DRM) mechanism that will be included on BD-ROM discs. The Blu-ray Disc Association was forced into providing this extra layer of protection following pressure from Fox. The HD DVD group did not agree to provide Fox with such a DRM over AACS. The fears about BD+ surround the possibility of studios like Fox theoretically being given the power to restrict Mandatory Managed Copy (a system that allows users to make digital copies of movies and send them around a home network).
Mandatory Managed Copy in the News
HD DVD representative points out problems with Blu-ray (17 January 2006)- Another issue with Blu-ray is a requirement placed on the group after signing a deal with Fox. Fox demanded to be able to use a stronger copy protection technology in addition to AACS. The HD DVD group rejected the demand but Blu-ray conceded. Fox is unhappy that consumers might be able to use Mandatory Managed Copy to watch movies wherever they please around their homes. The DRM being pushed by Fox could theoretically restrict Mandatory Managed Copy. Managed Copy has been an issue for months ever since Hewlett-Packard demanded that Blu-ray require the technology on all discs.
Fox has no plans to release movies on HD DVD format (4 December 2005)- "We believe that Blu-ray not only has the superior technology and backing in terms of strength to market but also the superior content protection," Fox Filmed Entertainment co-chairman James Gianopulos said. Blu-ray Disc allows movies studios to decide on Mandatory Managed Copy on a per title basis, which may be bad for consumers as it might leave them with no way to backup the movies they buy on Blu-ray Discs.
Blu-Ray group responds to HP proposals (20 November 2005)- The Blu-ray group said it will incorporate Mandatory Managed Copy but would launch it in spring 2006 with interactive features built on Sun Microsystems' Java software. "Mandatory managed copy will be part of Blu-ray format, but while HP's request [for interactivity] is being considered, at this point in time, the Blu-ray group is still proceeding down the path of Java," Blu-ray spokesman Andy Parsons told Reuters. "We are taking their request seriously, but are not willing to delay the launch and are going to go forward with the Java-type option."
HP urges Blu-Ray group to support more features (20 October 2005)-- The two technologies that HP wants Blu-Ray to support are Mandatory Managed Copy and iHD. Mandatory Managed Copy gives consumers the ability to copy content from the HD disc onto home servers then distribute them around a network. Intel also said it would think about also supporting Blu-Ray if Mandatory Managed Copy were supported. iHD provides new interactive features and will be implemented into Microsoft's next operating system, Windows Vista.
Intel would also support Blu-Ray if... (5 October 2005)- An Intel executive has said the company would consider also supporting Blu-Ray if the Blu-Ray Disc Association would promise that content stored on Blu-Ray discs could be transfered to home multimedia servers without complications or issues. This "Mandatory Managed Copy" ensures that consumers will be able to copy content directly from a disc to a home server where it could be accessed from around the home and can be copied and viewed on a portable device.
