Approves use of DreamStream and its 2048-bit “military strength” anti-piracy encryption technology to protect content streamed to viewers online.
The MPAA has taken an additional step to prevent pirates from copying digital streams of online content with news that it has approved the use of Dreamstream, a 2048-bit “military strength” encryption technology.
“We are very excited to have the MPAA stand behind our technology,” said Ulf Diebel, chief development officer for DreamStream. “The MPAA understands the need to be proactive – rather than reactive — in addressing the chokehold that piracy has on the motion picture industry. Their recommendation is not something that Hollywood will take lightly.”
Laura Tunberg, MGM’s former vice president of intellectual property enforcement, first introduced the MPAA to DreamStream’s system in March of 2008. Since that time, the MPAA has reviewed the technology and found it to be a viable means for securing digital content, Solomon said.
“We are very excited about our breakthrough technology. For the first time, digital content can be distributed without fear of piracy. By making it possible for studios and other copyright holders to secure their content, we can make it impossible for movies to be digitally pirated,” said Diebel. “DreamStream can restore property rights to their owners and restore the commercial success of music and video recordings with a solution that benefits both producers and consumers.”
In recent years, online media distribution systems, such as Apple’s iTunes, have continually fallen prey to digital piracy. DreamStream claims to have the solution to this dilemma.
“The existing systems are broken,” said Diebel. “If studios and artists want to confront the problem of piracy they must embrace a comprehensive restructuring of their distribution methods.”
The MPAA was attracted to DreamStream’s system because it differs from existing products and services in several ways. Most noteworthy, DreamStream’s system operates via online streaming and not file downloads. As such, purchased content cannot be stored on users’ hard disks, which eliminates the possibility of copying or redistributing the digital files.
Because the content does not have to be downloaded, DreamStream’s technology is able to transmit media files at such higher qualities than are currently being offered by DreamStream’s competitors. With only a 4 Mbps Internet connection, DreamStream’s system is able to provide consumers with HD quality content.
Unique to DreamStream’s technology is the instant availability of the digital content offered. While most media systems require download or processing delays, DreamStream’s system is able to offer its users instant access to digital content.
DreamStream’s technology also features encryption that greatly exceeds current standards. While existing online media distribution systems are typically secured using only 128 bit encryptions, DreamStream touts a full 20-round, 2048 bit encryption, which is the strongest in the industry. To date, DreamStream is the only company to offer the protection of military grade encryption in the online delivery of streaming media.
From the DreamStream site:
Pirates are not just found in the movies anymore. Today’s pirate is a twelve-year-old sitting on a couch in Hong Kong. Or, worse yet, an unmanned fleet of Xbox’s all aimed at your server. Hacker attempts are no longer measured in how many per day but how many per second. It is just a matter of time until the pirate comes aboard your ship and breaks into the treasure chest. Unless they cannot see the ship. With DreamStream, your digital information is invisible. Your treasure chest is secured, and the key to it is encrypted with a 2048 bit encryption. Yes, a true digital fortress. A fortress that fits on a very small chip or hard drive!
DreamStream’s unpublished encryption has never been compromised by hackers or digital pirates.
“To win the war on piracy, the studios need DreamStream’s military grade capabilities,” said Diebel.
DreamStream’s file streaming system is one of the many uses for the company’s encryption technologies. DreamStream’s encryption can be imbedded into any online or computer-based system. DreamStream is currently developing a secured, low-cost, high-definition disc-based system to rival Sony’s Blu-ray technology.
“Military strength” or not, hackers are sure to find a workaround at some point. Remember how Sony’s supposedly “copy-proof” CDs were cracked with a simple black marker?
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You can have all the encryption in the world but the weakness is that you must give the customer the key before the movie can be viewed.
I’m not too sure about the encryption aspect but I can already download streaming video so I would say that it is already compromised. I’m assuming that if it can be viewed while streaming its already been beat.
the only way to prevent piracy is if the key would be built into the dvd player’s rom chip.
and even then a hacker could extract the key using the same technique used by video game copiers ( there are devices that can copy the code from a game cartridge to disk ).
if a human made it its compromised im sure those who developed this technology can hack it in no time at all or know how to whats to stop another human being from figuring it out….time effort knowledge. i love this modern day wild west of technology and media figuring out a new business model and fighting it all the way down. the pirates will always win!!!
I hope dreamstream doesn’t have military clients otherwise those clients will be really pissed off when the University students start cracking the encryption. How do you explain away the crack in your security due to commercial interests.
Unless they’re using a vetted algorithm 2048 bits doesn’t mean squat. From the key size I assume they’re either using public key encryption or just trying to generate hype with big numbers but for the sake of argument I’ll assume the former.
It’s unlikely they’re using a 2048 bit key to encrypt the entire movie cause public key encryption is very slow but much like SSL using it as a secure means to exchange a smaller key for use with a much faster private key cipher.
In any case these DRM companies must not understand encryption and the fundamentals of the Von Neumann computer architecture cause if they did they would know the key must exist in unencrypted form in memory at some point. The hack that broke AACS was a slightly modified chosen-plaintext attack the hacker dumped the memory for the HD-DVD player and went through it byte by byte testing for keys which was made easier by the fact AACS consortium release detail technical details of the protection system and example implementation of certain parts. I suspect DreamStream would be vulnerable to a similar attack.
Ok there are several things idiotic about what the MPAA is doing:
1) Like prh99 said the decrypted data (and decryption keys) will have to reside in memory at some point and thus can be dumped to a harddisk and sorted out by a hacker with too much time on his hands.
2) IIRC Civilian use of very strong forms of encryption is really super ILLEGAL. Isn’t the MPAA or DreamStream risking legal action by using this grade of encryption?
@Gamer8585 in the U.S civilians can use strong encryption fear of back doors and only limited by feasibility of use on their systems. The EFF etc reined in a lot of the governments attempts to control the availability and use of strong encryption through programs like the Capstone cryptography-control initiative which product the Skipjack algorithm the clipper chip. and government run key escrow. The government was also made to lax it’s export restrictions on strong crypto.
sorry for the double post
“can use strong encryption fear of back doors” should say “can use strong encryption without fear of government mandated back doors.”
@prh99
Thanks for the info. It’s good to know that we can use strong cryptography without legal threat. Last I heard there were some restrictions on its use but I haven’t exactly kept up with all the news. God Bless the EFF.
@Gamer8585 There are still some restrictions but they only apply to exporting cryptographic products (like PGP) and the use of cryptography by service providers covered by CALEA (the law that requires certain communications provider to allow for the lawful intercept of communications).
Yep circumvent this shit and you’ll be a threat to national fuggin’ security. Some kid will end up figuring it out.
DreamStream’s encryption is not a public key algorithm.
Also DreamStream’s encryption uses dynamic key generation. Thus even if you could hack a single file the other files would remain secure.