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HDCP FAQ's

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DVIGear is your source for information on the audiovisual industry's technologies. We have compiled our most frequently asked questions on HDMI, DVI, HDCP, and more. We will continue to add to and update this list, so check back often!

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HDCP - High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. HDCP is either the best or worst feature of DVI technology, depending on who you are. HDCP, created by Intel, overall, is a type of encryption that protects the content contained in DVI transmissions, designed to protect this content. In order to protect this content and to maintain copyrights, technology manufacturers must meet the demands of the content producers and attain licenses that equip their products with HDCP through cipher keys. With these keys in use, display devices will be enabled to display the encrypted video content. The trick comes in attaining the key. Manufacturers agree to limit the video transmission to use by the authorized viewer rather than allowing storage and retransmission of this content.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not really ? the keys are very expensive and difficult, as you might imagine. Thus, many manufacturers have products that are enabled with HDCP and many do not. Even if the devices on either end of the application are compliant, all devices in the middle must be as well (repeaters, converters, etc.). [Most cables and adapters will be a simple pass through of this information and are of no major concern.] For example, if we are using an HDCP DVD player using a DVI connection and transmitting to a projector, this projector must be equipped with HDCP. If we want to show this same content on two projectors simultaneously, the DVI distribution amplifier that we are using must also be equipped with HDCP. As the application becomes more complex it becomes less likely that the devices will be able to transmit the signal properly. Limiting DVI DVD players to transmit HDCP encrypted signal to displays is an effort by Hollywood to protect and control their content. With HDTV being carried over DVI, it also becomes an issue for not only watching movies but for HDTV transmissions as well. As we go forward, this compatibility problem will continue to snowball in an effort to restrict the pirating of digital video content.