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Comment by ramses0 | Hacker News Reader

Is USB-C basically the trojan horse for DRM audio? Likely yes, right? HDCP on HDMI out, equivalent on USB-C out?

"Usage of digital audio means that headsets should gain their own amplifiers, DACs and various other logic, which is currently located inside smartphones. Intel proposes to install special multi-function processing units (MPUs) ... The MPUs will also support HDCP technology, hence, it will not be possible to make digital copies of records using USB-C digital headset outputs."

Yet another form of irritating DRM which won't actually prevent piracy.

Take apart any device which supports the copy protection, connect to output of DAC, bypassed.

/facepalm

And just like Apple TV[1], enjoy getting HDCP errors requiring restarting playback several times.

1: Might have been the Toshiba screen it was connected to.

Dunno why you're being downvoted, that's exactly the type of frustrating experience that exemplifies HDCP.

It's not really about stopping piracy though. it's about making sure they can sell licenses to manufacturers.

Yeah. If they stuck to old-fashioned 3.5mm jack, they couldn't charge a licensing fee on every headphone manufactured.

Who makes copies using their headphones jack anyhow?

I doubt anyone is spending serious money on audio DRM. The ship sailed, the standard for audio is non-DRM. Sure, there's streaming, but the vast majority of the music you can stream you can buy DRM free from pretty much anywhere. I don't think you can put that cat back in the bag.

It would be more likely to be used with Hollywood movies, where the world is still flat and of course users should be glad that they have been granted the privilege of audio at all.

Hey, we lived just fine 50 years without sound, we can live again without it if there is not a DRM solution with it - Random Hollywood Exec

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