Intel Integrates DRM Into Processors

http://www.digitmag.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=4915
from Stardock Forums

In what I consider a damnable move and one that was "slipped" in, Intel has apparently integrated DRM into its new Pentium D and 945 chipset. The new feature - which Intel thus far refuses to give details on - gives the RIAA, the MPAA, and other DRM-enthused organizations control over purchased content at the hardware level for the first time. It certainly appears to strike a heavy blow for consumer's fair-use rights, though it's certainly too soon to throw up the red flag just yet (a yellow flag to be sure, however).

If this new integration is as bad as I fear it will be, it certainly gives me the first reason ever never to buy another Intel processor and to switch to AMD.

63,402 views 17 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ugh...::sighs:: Why do all the great things have to come to an end?
Why cant they just keep on being a great thing!?

Im Sorry Yarlen but I have to agree 100%... Intel may be losing ALOT of business from this moronic move...Ah well.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Does that mean I can't copy my CDs to my computer? And prevent copying game CDs to my computer so I can run them without having to swap CD for every game and have the CD spinning for hours during gameplay?
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Possibly, yes. What DRM does is allow the content provider to decide precisely how you get to use what you pay for (though it often is easily bypassed at the software level). So if the RIAA or a game publisher code for this new hardware-level DRM onto your music or game CD, they could prevent you from ripping MP3s, making backup copies, etc.

I just really dislike DRM for this reason. It assumes everyone is a criminal by default and takes away their rights to do what they will with what they buy.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
*sells intel stock
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Honestly, this bugs me so much I'm going to do the same as soon as I put some money into my trading account.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

As a followup, Intel's responded to the article mentioned above here.

According to what I was able to look up about DTCP-IP, it allows content to be transferred over an internal network, but not over the Internet. Still, I (and others) find this quite troubling.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yarlen it seems some of the people out there think AMD will follow suit and put DRM into their processors. I hope not.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

   I sincerely hope not too. I'd like to think that millions of people would boycott both companies, but there hasn't been that sort of commitment to anything since the original Divx.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How does a boycott occur when the only two options are both doing the same thing?

I guess people could continue to use old technology, but that's not realistic.

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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess people could continue to use old technology, but that's not realistic.


It is realistic for me - I'm poor! I'm still using a AMD 2000+ processor.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is realistic for me - I'm poor! I'm still using a AMD 2000+ processor.


Heh. That's not that old! Before I built my own computer last year, I was using an AMD K6-2/400 processor. Now that was old technology!

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Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, so far these changes are only on the dual-core chips that Intel makes (Pentium D). I think it'll be a while yet before consumers or even gamers need that kind of processing power. It leaves a window of opportunity to make consumers wishes felt.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Another followup - Intel appears to be in damage-control mode and this article makes it sound like they've forced the initial report on their DRM shenanigans to be removed - Link.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
According to this release, Intel claims that there isn no DRM embedded in the 945 chipset. http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=23708
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

The link I posted above delves into this also. The Inquirer article is the PR damage control which Intel is now putting out to everyone. I think everyone should treat this with a grain of salt until Intel comes clean on technical details on exactly how they're making these implementations. It's encouraging that things may not be as bad as they were first reported, though.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Two thoughts... 1st- AMD will adopt this too. Which platform did you plan on switching to? 2nd- companies like AOL-TW will not endorse IP-TV without hardware level DRM over IP. Given the option of letting AOL know which processor ID I have but in return receiving 4 simultaneous angles of the Yankees at 1080p seems like an easy tradeoff.

DRM sucks, but since it can be disabled right now - and it only exists to allow IPTV and other streaming content, I'll let it slide. The minute it does anymore more than that, however, and I will raise hell.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
And by then it'll be too late.