Report: Digital Copying Deal Made
Filed at 7:10 a.m. EST
By The Associated Press
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Five computer and electronics
industry giants have agreed on a plan to prevent people from
illegally copying digital movies and music, the Los Angeles
Times reported today.
Intel Corp., Sony Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Toshiba Corp., and Hitachi Ltd. are expected to announce the
proposal today.
The move could encourage entertainment companies to
distribute music and movies over the Internet. Fears of copyright
infringement have largely kept Hollywood from selling its
products in digital form in cyberspace.
``If somebody tries to violate a copyright, it won't work,''
said Mike Aymar, Intel consumer products vice president. ``The
goal is that you'll see products on the marketplace that
support this by the end of the year.''
According to the proposal, high-definition TV sets, personal
computers, digital video disc players, digital video cassette
recorders and set-top boxes would be equipped with technology
that requires a code before a copyrighted piece of work can
be transferred from one device to another.
It would ensure that someone who watches or listens to
digital movies or music over satellite services, cable networks and
the Internet won't be able to make copies without permission.
The encryption technique scrambles the copyrighted material
in one device so it cannot be unscrambled by another device
without the correct software key.
Intel executives said the system won't be noticed by
consumers unless they try to make an illicit copy. They would get a
message that their attempt was denied.
Related Information From Hoover's Inc.
Intel Corp
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Sony Corp.
Hitachi Ltd ADR
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