The AACS Saga

It is unlikely that many missed this one. At one point it was even responsible for the news site Digg going offline...

It started when details of a crack for scrambled HD-DVDs was posted on the internet. This crack involved a (supposed to be) secret key used to decode the DRM-enabled DVDs. It caused quite a storm, and spread across the internet, mainly through blogs. Bloggers excercising their right to free speech posted the key. Obviously it was not long before the story got 'Dugg'. However after the AACS-LA announced that it was prepared to take legal action against those publishing the key, Digg began censoring stories linking to the number.

Disgruntled Digg users rebelled, and began mass-posting stories about the crack to the site. The whole issue has become something of an internet phenomenon, and the key can be found from T-Shirts to well, anywhere! In the end forcing Digg to side with its users, saying they had made their wish clear.

Though the AACS-LA's threats have stirred up internet users worldwide, and only served to publicise the key more than ever before, a more important story may have been forgotten. There exists a crack published a while ago that can not be revoked the way this infamous key has been. A much deeper flaw exists in the copy protection method itself. Perhaps HD-DVD and the video industry in general will go the same way as the music industry, which is now shifting away from DRM.