Edit (20091021) to provide an up-front "short answer" based on info from http://www.digital-cp.com/faqs
If the medium (e.g. a Blu-ray movie disc) is HDCP protected, then the ENTIRE contiguous chain of hardware and sofware must also support HDCP to provide full HD experience.
(e..g. HDCP Blu-ray movie = HDCP Blu-ray drive + HDCP video card + HDCP display + HDCP audio + HDCP drivers.)
I'm considering finally giving-up and for convenience installing a Blu-ray player/burner in my personal PC...however, if it's going to 100% require upgrading the video card AND the display just to play every Blu-ray disc movie, it's not worth it. Because of my poor vision, having HD available (via Blu-ray) isn't essential, but it would be convenient at times if I rent or buy a Blu-ray disc every now and then.
The problem is, I have ZERO hands-on experience with Blu-ray.
I can't find definitive statement that Blu-ray player HARDWARE architecture requires an end-to-end contiguous HDCP chain to play a disc. It seems only to require an end-to-end contiguous HDCP chain (from player thru display) IF the disc content itself implements HDCP protocols.
This conclusion seems to be backed-up not only in Blu-ray architecture info I've found on-line, but because I also see a lot of 1080p HD displays being advertised that do NOT support HDCP, so there must be a market for non-HDCP HD 1080p displays, and I'd think customers would be very ticked-off after buying a $200+ display that didn't work on a lot of Blu-ray/HD movies.
In other words, from what I've found so far, it seems Blu-ray HDCP may be like some older video proetection schemes...it MAY be used to some degree, but isn't always?
Is this accurate?
If it is, does a small/med/high percentage of discs (movies) actually require HDCP?
Is HDCP hardware support requirement labeled on the Blu-ray movie covers? (currently unable to check this out in stores, but can't find "HDCP" as an equipment requirement on ANY blu-ray movie descriptions on Amazon...so I'm suspicious).
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>>Re: What Are Exact Blu-ray Hdwr Requirements re: HDCP? (Always or Sometimes Required?)
I don't know much about HDCP, but I know about about Blu-Ray in general. HDCP is something built into basically everything I've ever seen. I think it's a bunch of crap to be honest..BUT almost everything I've seen requires HDCP, so it's better to have that support under your belt.
Blu-Ray has been a wonderful transition from DVD as it provides much better image and sound quality - and it's all done through one single cable. DVD's will be phased out by fairly soon by this new technology, and for good reason!
As for the PC, you will need a Blu-Ray disc drive(about $200) and a decent videocard that supports HDMI.
To me, it made more sense to buy a large 1080p monitor and a PlayStation 3 - it was cheap and allowed me to have a not only a large monitor for PC gaming, but also able to play games for the PS3! I just hit a button and I can switch from PC-PS3 within seconds.
Not sure if all this helps at all by it's just my view on Blu-Ray.
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>>Re: What Are Exact Blu-ray Hdwr Requirements re: HDCP? (Always or Sometimes Required?)
TBH HDCP is/was more of a deterrent to copying copyrighted content, than actually being able to display a movie you had actually bought.
As far as I was aware, once the particular movie was decoded using HDCP equipment, it could be displayed on whatever display you like, HDCP display or not.
Once its being played through a relatively recent video card, I don't see the issue.
After all, if you could play it through a monitor using VGA / DVI, there is no reason it would not display through a screen / tele using VGA / DVI or HDMI.
But a bit like yourself, I'm not entirely to 'up' on Blu-Ray tech itself, but thinking logically - if it [HDCP protected content] only played through a secure HDCP chain of devices:
1. Target market is MASSIVELY reduced
2. Surely anti-competitive in some way?
Either way, both huge no-no's for content producers.
>>Re: What Are Exact Blu-ray Hdwr Requirements re: HDCP? (Always or Sometimes Required?)
Michael C said:
...As for the PC, you will need a Blu-Ray disc drive(about $200) and a decent videocard that supports HDMI.
I just saw a Blu-ray player-only drive on sale for retail US$70, and a Blu-ray double-layer burner for about $160 or so. Course, the drives also supported playing/burning DVDs respectively. The prices are definitely coming down (at least until the US$ goes past the toilet and into the septic tank).
I know what HDCP is, the problem is I don't know if everything has to support HDCP to play some, many, or all Blu-ray movie discs. e..g. HDCP Blu-ray drive + HDCP video card + HDCP display + HDCP audio + HDCP drivers. After all, one intent of HDCP is to ultimately prevent the user intercepting and copying HD content from any link in the hardware chain involved. Right now, I would have to buy ALL the devices listed to fully support HDCP (if required just to play Blu-ray movies), and I just can't justify the hundreds of dollars needed to do so.
Although, if you can play Blu-ray movies at FULL HDCP 1080p + FULL sound support from a Playstation on a "regular" non-HDCP 1080p display (assuming the Playstation has an home theatre audio output), then I guess that partially answers my question.
(If you want anything beyond minimal CD quality sound (which I assume means full surround sound technology) you would also have to have an HDCP enabled audio device. HDCP can also be enabled on DVI so they could make content much more restrictive if they choose to do so.)
>>Re: What Are Exact Blu-ray Hdwr Requirements re: HDCP? (Always or Sometimes Required?)
This was on a product spec page at TigerDirect.
The two types of DVI interfaces are Single Link and Dual Link. Following are the features and benefits of each: Single Link - The Single Link interface is limited to a maximum pixel clock of 165 Hz. It uses four (4) twisted pairs of wires (one each of Red, Green, Blue and Clock). Maximum resolution is 1920 x 1200 at 60Hz. Dual Link - The Dual Link interface is most common for today’s modern LCD monitors. It provides three times as many pixels as the Single Link interface. And its maximum clock may exceed 165 Hz. Dual Link uses six (6) twisted pairs wires with two (2) each for Red, Green, and Blue, as well as a pair for Clock. Dual Link’s maximum resolution is 2560 x 1600 at 60Hz. When you use the Dual Link Interface you can use a longer cable because of its higher bandwidth.
Dual Link also provides HDCP support, which IS REQUIRED FOR BLU-RAY PLAYBACK.
>>Re: What Are Exact Blu-ray Hdwr Requirements re: HDCP? (Always or Sometimes Required?)
Keep in mind (though im not 100% sure) that you will need software to play the Blu-ray movies. I don't even think Windows 7's WMP supports Blu-ray playback.
>>Re: What Are Exact Blu-ray Hdwr Requirements re: HDCP? (Always or Sometimes Required?)
It seems to me that people who buy 1080p displays (to watch Blu-ray) that do not support HDCP would be very upset. I certainly would be. There are decent sized 1080p displays being advertised (places like TigerDirect, etc) that don't support HDCP but the sales description significantly emphasizes it supports 1080p. I'd bet most people would incorrectly assume that "1080p" automatically means it can display Blu-ray movies in full HD.
So of course, the thing to look for in the specs is that the display specifically supports HDCP.
So what happens when you don't have an HDCP display? Do they restrict the video output resolution to 720p or similar? That would be consistent with what we know regarding audio restrictions when they restrict the audio to mere CD quality when played without HDCP licensed audio hardware and software. Or, does the video just not get displayed at all?
I'm with DublinGunner on this one. It seems to me that requiring an HDCP compliant 1080p display limits the market...but that seems to be the case.
This led me to wonder what a manufacturer has to go through (agreements, fees, termination, etc) for an HDCP license (interestingly, the resellers of the equipment apparently also must obtain a limited HDCP license). I found some very interesting info at http://www.digital-cp.com/faqs
Q: Can a device convert an HDMI or DVI signal encrypted with HDCP to some other format, i.e., to component or composite video output?
A: No, content encrypted with HDCP must maintain that encryption until the content is displayed on a Presentation Device. Removal of encryption to convert to another format that does not have approved content protection technology is not allowed.
Q: What is the cost per unit sold (royalties) for each HDCP Licensed Component and or Product?
A: DCP does not charge Adopters for each unit that is produced or sold.
(note: it's a yearly license fee-john)
Q: Why do we need HDCP at all? Aren’t there enough digital rights management (DRM) schemes already in the marketplace? Why impose another standard to limit how content can be shown?
A: HDCP is not DRM; it is copy protection. DRM defines whether a consumer has the right to view the content, i.e. paid the license fee. HDCP assures that the HDMI interface over which the content will be played is secured against unauthorized copying.
HDCP does not limit how content is viewed, it only secures the HDMI interface. Without HDCP (and other copy protection technologies), content providers may not make their premium content available in High Definition formats.
Q: Are broadcast (over the air) television, cable and satellite programs scrambled with HDCP?
A: No, HDCP only protects HDMI, DisplayPort, UDI or GVIF interfaces. HDCP is not used to scramble any form of content before it reaches the connection between the Receiver (Set-top box, satellite, antenna). Those signals are on the upstream side of the device. The downstream side (connection between Receiver and TV or other Display) is where HDCP is used.
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