HD-DVD: About the 128 Bit Code Number

What if a 128 bit number posted on a site could cause the cite to get sued for copyright infringement? What if a 128 bit number could unlock a new HD-DVD so that you could copy a backup copy to your computer? What if major user operated internet sites were being issued cease and desist letters due to users repeatedly posting the code? If all of these things were true than we would be living in modern America. That's right, just a few weeks ago the DMCA has determined that posting this code on the internet will cause a cease and desist letter to be sent to the website hosting it, and then a lawsuit.

Why is it that this 128 bit number is such a hot topic? It is so important because the technology meant to replace DVD's uses this number in order to encrypt the disk. When the disk is encrypted it can only be played back; not recorded or stored in a digital manor. This seems like a very important idea until you realize that the RIAA has claimed a string of letters and numbers that is shorter than this sentence. It is simply frivolous. What would happen if they decided to use www. or .com as their encryption code. Would the internet desist and cease to exist? Or would their be an uprising against the ridiculous intellectual property rights that are being offered to corporations?

This code alone is enough to bring about legal difficulties. No context is required. For that reason this article will not be mentioning the code. Nowhere online is safe from the cease and desist letters that the RIAA has recently sent out to the various members of the internet.

Digg.com is a website that allows users to submit interesting websites that represent the news. If enough users "digg" it then the website will be featured on the front page. For about a week digg users were submitting sites that linked to the code. The digg administrators set a precedent by denying the stories and blocking any further references to the code. After about a week of this turmoil and censorship, the administrators at digg finally allowed users to post the code. This resulted in a torrent of stories catapulting to the front page. Which has lead to the legal jeopardy that Digg may now be in.

Why do people continue to allow laws that make it illegal to write down a string of 128 numbers mixed with letters?