They just announced a deal with HDNet to sell High Definition content, movies and shows, on DVD for playback on the LinkPlayer.  They're working on similar deals with other content providers.  Stay tuned for more info...

 

 

HDCP, or High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection 

 

Digital Content Protection, LLC
"HDCP is a specification developed by Intel Corporation to protect digital entertainment content across the DVI/HDMI interface. The HDCP specification provides a robust, cost-effective and transparent method for transmitting and receiving digital entertainment content to DVI/HDMI-compliant digital displays. The HDCP specification is available for download below. Implementation of HDCP requires a license, as described below."

HDCP Wiki
"HDCP is licensed by Digital Content Protection, LLC. In addition to paying fees, licensees agree to limit the capabilities of their products. High-definition digital video content is restricted to DVD quality on non-HDCP video outputs. DVD-Audio content is restricted to DAT quality on non-HDCP digital audio outputs (analog audio outputs have no quality limits). Licensees cannot allow their devices to make copies of content, and must design their products to "effectively frustrate attempts to defeat the content protection requirements." "

DVI, HDMI and HDCP Explained
"The HDCP specification is complicated, but the result is simple:  If you have an HDCP-enabled source component, every active device that connects to that source must also be HDCP-enabled.  That includes switchers, splitters, monitors, projectors, recorders, or anything else that could "Receive" the signal.  If the "Transmitter" doesn't get the response it wants, it will refuse to transmit the signal."

HDCP: The graphic card and monitor nightmare