The Blu-ray Disc License Entity, a group led by Sony, released the licensing requirements for the Content Protection Systems for the BD-ROM media, hardware and related software. The Content Protection Systems or CPS for the Blu-Ray format includes the "Advanced Access Content System" (AACS), BD+ and BD-ROM Mark.

In general, the AACS includes the content protection requirements for managing content stored on the Blu-Ray (and HD DVD) of prerecorded and recorded optical media for consumer use with PCs and CE devices.

Blu-ray Disc differs from HD DVD disc in that it also includes BD+ and BD-ROM Mark. BD+ relates to the ability to keep content from playing on a known hacked player while the RomMark is a manufacturing mark placed on the disc to help reduce mass piracy of discs.

Today, the Blu-ray Disc License Entity announced which hardware devices and software applications related to the read-only Blu-Ray format (BD-ROM) should implement any of the AACS, BD+, BD-ROM Mark content protection elements.

Licensees of the Content Protection Obligation of FLLA for BD-ROM Version 1 technology shall implement CPS in its BD-ROM Products, in accordance with the following CPO Table and CPS license. The ?Not Required? in the CPO Table means that it is the Licensee?s choice, as to whether it will implement such CPS or not.

Licensees are allowed to manufacture any BD-ROM Component which supports multiple CPS as long as it is in compliance with the CPO Table. For example, the Licensee may manufacture the BD-ROM Component which supports both AACS and BD-ROM Mark.

Licensed Category		Implementation of :
		AACS	BD-ROM Mark	BD+
BD-ROM (Hybrid) Movie Media		Required	Required for 25/50 G Media	Not Required
BD-ROM (Hybrid) Non-Commercial Audiovisual Media		Required	Required for 25/50 G Media	Not Applicable
BD-ROM (Hybrid)Data Media		Not Applicable	Required for 25/50 G Media	Not Applicable
BD-ROM (Hybrid) Game Media		Not Applicable	Not Required	Not Applicable
BD-ROM Game Console		Required	Required	Required
BD-ROM Movie Player		Required	Required	Required
BD-ROM Test Player		Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
BD-ROM PC Drive	if designed to actuate the function of playback of the contents encoded in accordance with AACS license	Required	Required	Not Applicable
	if NOT designed to actuate the function of playback of the contents encoded in accordance with AACS license	Not Required	Required	Not Applicable
BD-ROM PC Application Software		Required	Not Applicable	Required
BD-ROM Component	Non-CPS Component	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
	CPS Component using AACS	Required	Not Required	Not Required
	CPS Component using BD-ROM Mark	Not Required	Required	Not Required
	CPS Component using BD+	Not Required	Not Required	Required
BD-ROM Tester		Not Required	Not Required	Not Applicable
BD-ROM Tools and Manufacturing Equipment	For mastering 25/50 G Media	Not Required	Required	Not Applicable
	For authoring and other purpose than for mastering 25/50 G Media	Not Required	Not Applicable	Not Required
	For mastering 4.7/8.5 G Media	Not Required	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
	For authoring and other purpose than for mastering 4.7/8.5 G Media	Not Required	Not Applicable	Not Required

According to the Blu-ray Disc License Entity, licensees shall ensure that each BD-ROM Movie Player, BD-ROM PC Drive and BD-ROM Game Console are not allowed to playback any BD-ROM Media (excluding BD-ROM Media whose data capacity is 4.7 or 8.5 Gbytes) unless such BD-ROM Media (excluding BD-ROM Media whose data capacity is 4.7 or 8.5 Gbytes) includes BD-ROM Mark.

Notice that the BD+ feature should be implemented only in BD-ROM Game Consoles such as the upcoming Playstation 3, the BD-ROM PC Application Software and the BD-ROM Movie Players.

What is also interesting is the fact that after a six month "grace" period starting from the availability of an interim AACS license for applicable BD-ROM Products,

1. new BD-ROM Movie Players, and
2. a combination of new BD-ROM PC Applications Software and new BD-ROM PC Drives

will be required to reject the playback of Media that

1. incorporates Commercial Audiovisual Content or other audio and/or video content which has been encoded in accordance with the "System Description, Blu-ray Disc Read Only Format Specifications part 3" and
2. do not implement applicable AACS

.

What isn't clear is whether players and drives released onto the market within the 6 month grace period which will not enforce any protection checking, will continue to play new releases after the 6 motnths or whether they will have to have their firmware upgraded, which could then enforce the protection restrictions.