Sony targeted in new lawsuit on AACS encryption
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jun 1st 2007 at 2:30PM }
Sony can't seem to catch a break.According to ars technica, the troubled electronics giant is facing yet another lawsuit, less than a week after a Blu-ray related complaint filed by Target Technology. This time, Canadian encryption company Certicom filed a suit claiming Sony had infringed their elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) through the use of AACS encryption.
AACS, or Advanced Access Content System, is a standard encryption technique that's used on both Blu-ray and HD-DVD products. AACS can be found in all PS3 systems and Blu-ray (game and movie) discs. According to the suit, Sony must pay license fees for use of this technology, which will cost company a hefty price, increasing the cost of PS3 that much more. Other Sony products are affected by the suit, including (but not limited to) certain VAIO computers, televisions and DVD players.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Keith @ Jun 1st 2007 5:33PM
So they only go after Sony for this? Why not Microsoft, or anyone else involved using AACS? Why are they targeting only Sony? And I thought Sony always pays to use AACS? And AACS isn't a Sony developed security tool? It sounds like this company is going after the wrong person in this filing. They need to go after AACS if it is AACS that is infringing. Not Sony.
DPR @ Jun 1st 2007 2:43PM
Glad I bought my PS3 early...
I hate how small insignificant companies always want to jump on the bandwagon whenever they can - it's pathetic
Robert @ Jun 1st 2007 2:44PM
"Can't buy a bucket!"
shase @ Jun 1st 2007 2:45PM
WTF is with this world... all the suing bullshit. It's no like we are using their crap because we like them. I think maybe all those devices should from now on drop this entirely and not pay them a single cent onward. It's obvious that they waited a while to come up to Sony (and possible MS for HD DVD addon, etc.) for the lawsuit. Sony did release the specs for ps3 a while ago, and vaio computers too. Not saying that this company sits on the patents (they aren't ) but it's quite suspicious that they waited so long to bring it up.
Sauerball @ Jun 1st 2007 2:53PM
Sony is a lot of things but "troubled"? They're actually getting their s*** together.
massive_98 @ Jun 1st 2007 3:04PM
"I hate how small insignificant companies always want to jump on the bandwagon"
This company is Canadian which makes it very significant.
Remember folks that these lawsuits have been going on long before the public heres about them.
I bet every day companies such as Sony and Microsoft have a new lawsuit on their hands. We just don't here about them. (which is the way it should be)
Kim Possible rox!
mccomber @ Jun 1st 2007 4:06PM
OK, if AACS is what is infringing on this patent, shouldn't they be going after the AACS LA?
theDude @ Jun 1st 2007 4:19PM
If this is truly an AACS infringement as the Ars article suggests, then why should they only go after Sony? Biggest payday?
Jitty @ Jun 2nd 2007 12:14AM
This crap is getting freaking ridiculous. Their better be a good reason they're only suing sony on this one and not any of the many other companies/products that use "their" AACS... (unless everybody else is paying this random company of course, which sounds pretty unlikely)
andres @ Jun 2nd 2007 2:03PM
maybe they are not going after HD-Dvd because EITHER a Hd-dvd is paying them for the use OR HD-DVD does not carry this particular type.
Also for those that say
"I hate how small insignificant companies always want to jump on the bandwagon whenever they can - it's pathetic"
well I hate how major corporations think they can walk over the little guy.
obzabor @ Jun 5th 2007 1:33PM
They are not "only" going after Sony. The process with these things is usually something like:
1. try to sell a license
2. If (1) fails, go to court.
Now, step (1) may take up to 2 years to consider failed, as these huge companies are really slow. This means that Certicom has probably been in negotiations with Sony, or at least tried to get into negotiations with them for quite a while. They are probably trying it with all those other AACS using companies.
They definitely not "only" after Sony. But the timing of the licensing deals and/or lawsuits may span several years.