[mythtv-users] Odds of Linux CableCARD support?

[Joel Ostheller]

You bring up some interesting points. I will refine my question but first
let me explain a little more what I am proposing....

Very basic- "Digital Cable" is a digital video stream from the cable
companies which is encoded with some algorithm. To decode that stream you
need a cable box -or- CableCARD (tm). The CableCARD 1.0/2.0 you get from
your cable provider provides *decoding algorithm* and IP routing
funtionality. I am not talking about breaking encryption, but playing by the
rules of the CableLabs Specification to setup a digital TV link from the
cable companies to my Linux computer. There are some parts of the
specification that i may choose not to implement as a "feature";
specifically I seem to recall somewhere that the hardware (ie Linux
computer) is technically supposed to report back to the host that it is a
compliant cablelabs approved product; that wouldn't happen. But other then
that, I believe I could create a cablelabs CableCARD reader for the PC and
linux.

Now back to my question - I am almost certain I couldn't build a Cablelabs
CableCARD reader for the PC and then try and distribute it as that, because
CableCARD is a trademarked name and unless I am approved to use that name on
my product I couldn't. Okay, I'm fine with not using that name, no biggie.
But If I implement custom hardware that interfaces to my cable provider, am
I in for legal problems? My cable company gives me a cableCARD, and instead
of putting it in my TV, I put it in my PC in a custom box I made. The custom
box I made does not do anything that the cable companies prohibit (ie... I'm
not stealing it. I bought the service and am legally decoding it from their
CableCARD they provided me with). BUT what about cableLABS??? I wouldn't be
paying CableLabs any sort of royalty, which is probably a problem since I
had to use their specification to design this custom hardware. Not only that
but CableLABS probably wouldn't allow me to license their technology because
the cable companies and networks do not want their stuff "stolen" by having
it copied to your hard drive.  I think the answer to my question is: "sure I
could make one for myself and trusted friends, but if I try and make a buck
off it then I will be sued for all I have."

To put this into perspective, as a rough estimate, I could probably make
these cableCARD readers for the PC for 30 bucks or less in mass quantity.


On 4/6/06, Joe Votour <joevph at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I haven't looked at the legal aspects of CableCard
> (because neither I, nor the company that I work for
> have interest in it yet), but I have gone through the
> legal documentation for DOCSIS (another CableLabs
> specification), as I have been previously employed by
> companies doing DOCSIS work.
>
> At least in the DOCSIS days, you didn't have to be
> DOCSIS certified in order to market a cable modem -
> you could claim "DOCSIS compliance", and at that
> point, it was buyer beware.  The cable operators
> though wouldn't purchase the product, and at first,
> they wouldn't even authorize it for use.  Nowadays
> though, they'll authorize almost any cable modem
> because it's easier for customer service.  If you try
> to do something non-DOCSIS compliant, you'll get
> kicked off the headend.
>
> With CableCard, I'm not sure if it's the same way, in
> fact, I highly doubt that it is, given that everything
> is digitally signed.  (In DOCSIS, there was a
> CableLabs signature, and a vendor signature, and you
> didn't need the DOCSIS signature for operation).
>
> I'd say that if you have to break encryption, you're
> likely violating the DMCA.  There are also most likely
> patents related to CableCard which could get you into
> trouble also.
>
> You also face a technical issue which is (IIRC) that
> CableCard provides for revocation of cards.  So, if
> you are successful enough in breaking it, if your card
> is easily identifiable, it will get added to
> revocation lists, and will be rendered useless - in
> theory.  There were numerous Motorola cable modems
> which were compromised about a couple of years ago
> (the Surfboard 3xxx series), and as far as I know
> their keys weren't revoked - probably because Motorola
> is a key player in CableLabs.
>
> That said, if there was some way that I could assist
> in this without violating several laws and liability,
> I'd be interested in doing Linux support for a
> CableLabs supported CableCard product.
>
> -- Joe
>
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