BD+ technology ready for studios, manufacturers

Completion accelerated after attempts to hack Blu-ray copy-protection

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 6/28/2007

JUNE 28 | The added layer of Blu-ray Disc copyright protection known as BD+ is ready for studio and manufacturer licensing.

BD+ Technologies, the licensor of the technology, said information on how to access BD+ for use on Blu-ray discs is now available at its Web site, www.bdplusllc.com. The program includes the BD+ Specifications and Agreement for BD+ manufacturer adopters, content participants and authorized code developers.

Due to earlier attempts at cracking current Blu-ray and HD DVD copyright protection, where ripped copies of titles were being found online, creators of BD+ accelerated completion of the technology.

BD+ allows Blu-ray discs to install and run a piece of encryption software on the player, so in principle, each title can have a unique encryption scheme. That means that a hack only affects that single DVD copy and does not cause security breaches with other consumers’ copies of that DVD.

Heads of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, MGM Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, each Blu-ray exclusive companies, all publicly endorse BD+.

“Fox has vigorously fought against piracy for years, and the adoption of the BD+ as part of the Blu-ray Disc specification and an enhancement over and above AACS was a key factor in our decision to publish on the format,” said Mike Dunn, worldwide president of Fox. “This added layer of content protection gives Blu-ray yet another distinct competitive advantage.”

It has been speculated that one reason for Fox’s postponement of certain Blu-ray titles was to wait for BD+ to be finalized.

Walt Disney worldwide president Bob Chapek added, “We are excited that BD+ has now come to fruition. In this day and age, no content provider can risk not fully protecting their assets.”