CableLabs stamps 'copy once' technology

[mhz40]

Jeff Baumgartner, CED

CableLabs has approved a digital recording technology developed by Philips and Hewlett-Packard for use in "Digital Cable Ready" products.

The Video Content Protection System (VCPS) enables content delivered over cable to be marked as "copy once," meaning it can be burned onto VCPS-enabled DVD+R and DVD-RW disks.

CableLabs said the approval extends to all unidirectional Digital Cable Ready (DCR) products, as well as to one-way and two-way products built to OpenCable specs. The FCC has given its blessing to unidirectional Plug & Play agreement for set-top-free digital televisions. A two-way version of that agreement is still under discussion.

Though DCR manufacturers must obtain a license from CableLabs in order to build products that comply with the cable industry's CableCARD removable security platform, they must also obtain a separate license from Philips to implement the VCPS technology.

The new system is designed to ensure that consumers can continue to copy high-end programming at home in a limited fashion, but also protect studios and networks from digital piracy.

"Secure recording technologies like VCPS are essential for home copying, while maintaining the integrity of cable networks to provide high-value programming to customers who purchase retail products for use with cable," said CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard Green, in a release.