Re: What is COMTYPE

[rolf@max.lui.uni-tuebingen.de]

On Thu, 18 May 2000, Ralph Metzler wrote:

> Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 13:20:38 +0200 (CEST)
> From: Ralph Metzler <rjkm@netcologne.de>
> To: Par Ligander <pali@enea.se>
> Cc: ad franse <ad@afa.nl>, "linux-dvb@linuxtv.org" <linux-dvb@linuxtv.org>
> Subject: Re: What is COMTYPE
> 
> Par Ligander writes:
>  > 
>  > 
>  > On Thu, 18 May 2000, ad franse wrote:
>  > 
>  > > >
>  > > 
>  > As far as I understand it the different CA algorithms (irdeto, viacess,
>  > conax, seca etc) are only protocols to negotiate with the smartcard to get
>  > the descrambling keys (typical valid for 10s or so). The protocols are
>  > fairly known , several of them is very similar to older analog standards.

There is the Problem! There are Patents on these Crypto-Mechanisms.
You would still violate those even if you use a completly different
Algorythm. To make it a bit more clear one example:

Current Analog PayTV descrampling Programs use a semi Brute Force Method
to decrypt Analog PayTV. This is a completly different Method than the
rented Hardware PayTV decoders use. Therefore these Programs  are
perfectly Legal. (except the Keyfiles maybe)

In case of Digital TV there is no other way known than to use the
Patented decrypting Methods like IRDETO. A Software IRDETO would
violate these. Unless you license it from the Patent owner. 
But in this case you must Pay for the license. Im pretty sure this will
eat up the Price advantage of a software decoder.

But how about dumping the encrypted Movie to the Harddisk
and use a Brute Force Algorythm to decrypt the Movie?
Would be legal but would take a very very long time.
On the other Hand, Computers grow faster all the time ;)

grettings
         Rolf