High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection

"HDCP" redirects here. Not to be confused with DHCP.

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a form of digital copy protection developed by Intel Corporation[1] to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. Types of connections include DisplayPort (DP), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), as well as less popular or now deprecated protocols like Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF) and Unified Display Interface (UDI).

The system is meant to stop HDCP-encrypted content from being played on unauthorized devices or devices which have been modified to copy HDCP content.[2][3] Before sending data, a transmitting device checks that the receiver is authorized to receive it. If so, the transmitter encrypts the data to prevent eavesdropping as it flows to the receiver.[4]

In order to make a device that plays HDCP-enabled content, the manufacturer must obtain a license for the patent from Intel subsidiary Digital Content Protection LLC, pay an annual fee, and submit to various conditions.[5][6][7] For example, the device cannot be designed to copy; it must "frustrate attempts to defeat the content protection requirements";[7] it must not transmit high definition protected video to non-HDCP receivers; and DVD-Audio works can be played only at CD-audio quality[7] by non-HDCP digital audio outputs (analog audio outputs have no quality limits). If the device has a feature like Intel Management Engine disabled, HDCP will not work.

Cryptanalysis researchers demonstrated flaws in HDCP as early as 2001. In September 2010, an HDCP master key that allows for the generation of valid device keys was released to the public, rendering the key revocation feature of HDCP useless.[8][9] Intel has confirmed that the crack is real,[10] and believes the master key was reverse engineered rather than leaked.[11] In practical terms, the impact of the crack has been described as "the digital equivalent of pointing a video camera at the TV", and of limited importance for consumers because the encryption of high-definition discs has been attacked directly, with the loss of interactive features like menus.[12] Intel threatened to sue anyone producing an unlicensed device.[11]

  1. ^ "Digital Content Protection - About DCP".
  2. ^ HDCP specification 1.3. Page 31 0x15, Page 35
  3. ^ "HD DVD Glossary". 080509 hddvd-faq.com
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference autogenerated1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "HDCP v1.3 specification" (PDF). Digital Content Protection. 21 December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Digital Content Protection LLC". Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  7. ^ a b c "HDCP License Agreement" (PDF). Digital Content Protection, LLC. 16 January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  8. ^ Lawler, Richard (14 September 2010). "HDCP 'master key' supposedly released, unlocks HDTV copy protection permanently". Engadget. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  9. ^ Peter Bright (17 September 2010). "Intel confirms HDCP key is real, can now be broken at will". Ars Technica. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  10. ^ Staff, Ars (17 September 2010). "Intel confirms HDCP key is real, can now be broken at will". Ars Technica. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  11. ^ a b Wired. "Intel Threatens to Sue Anyone Who Uses HDCP Crack".
  12. ^ "HDCP antipiracy leak opens doors for black boxes". CNET.