Video Basics: What is HDCP? How does it affect me?

In recent years, resolutions and file sizes for video content have increased ten-fold. 720p was once cutting-edge technology; however, not only is content widely available in 1080p, but content creators are increasingly generating content in 4K –– and higher resolutions may soon become mainstream. However, an increase in quality creates an increase in time and costs for creators – especially for Hollywood movie producers.

With the introduction of the DVD, content became available digitally. In its infancy, unprotected digital content was easy to copy and distribute, so producers needed a way to ensure that their content was safe from illegal duplication and piracy. Enter HDCP or High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection.

In order to govern and protect digital content, several industry standards had to be created. To start, an encryption code was created in order to force the source of the content (ie. a Blu-Ray player) to communicate directly with the destination (a TV or projector). If either device was unable to interpret the encryption, or if any interruption in the signal occurred, the signal would not pass through. This also dictated that analog composite cabling and digital component cabling needed to be replaced with cabling that could carry a digital encryption code and signature; thus the introduction of the HDMI cable that now carries a host of information beyond simply audio and video. The information including bi-directional HDCP encryption, EDID, Ethernet, and even 3D configurations.

Over time, HDCP has made its way into nearly every device and source in a broadcast video signal chain. Originating signals from cable TV boxes, Blu-Ray or DVD Players, and streaming platforms (including Facebook and YouTube) are encrypted in order to protect the content creators. Since displays like TVs, Computer Monitors, and Projectors are all built to decode the encryption, this doesn’t create a problem for the general public; however, broadcast systems (a video switcher, router, or recording deck) are not capable of decoding this encryption; therefore, a signal carrying HDCP content will not pass.

While the solution to this problem is simple, it isn’t popular: never play copyright-protected content through a broadcast video system. If you need to display this type of content, wire the source directly to the destination as it’s intended to be –– once any legal, written permission required to publicly use the content has been secured. Otherwise, HDCP will do exactly what it was designed to do –– prohibit the transmission of the signal through an unauthorized broadcast system.