How does HDCP work ?
HDCP was designed as a copy protection for High Definition content. The HD content is such good quality that a protection system is required to prevent bootleggers making and selling unauthorized copies. The system is complicated to explain and due to its very nature the exact details are not made public, however the basics are as follows. • All HD equipment has to include HDCP firmware which has to be licensed by Digital Content Projection LLC • The HDCP firmware includes digital keys that are specific to individual equipment and manufacturer • When connecting 2 HD devices there is an exchange of keys and a specific encryption key is setup between the 2 devices before any HD content can be transferred. This is called handshaking.
