Blu-ray gets Managed Copy next year, requires new hardware

Ben Drawbaugh has details of a new managed copy feature coming to Blu-ray next year. It looks very complicated, requires new hardware and the copy will be wrapped with DRM, so I don’t hold out much hope for it. Will it mean that we can copy Blu-ray disks to our Media Center systems and then stream the content around the home? I doubt it! Make sure you checkout Ben’s post for a great diagram

It took over three years, but mandatory Managed Copy is set to become a reality next year as each studio is required to sign the recently finalized AACS license by December 4th 2009, and any studio that signs early receives up to a 25 percent discount on licensing fees. What isn't mandatory, though, is hardware support, and although the current generation of players definitely won't work, most expect the majority of new BD devices to. The cost (you didn't think it'd be free, did you?) and the number of copies is up to the studio, but at least one copy will be allowed. That copy can be made via a menu on the disc and can take the form of another Blu-ray Disc or a DRM-laced Microsoft file.