What is HDCP?
HDCP stands for High Definition Content Protocol and
is a copy protection scheme to eliminate the possibility of capturing content sent digitally from the source to the display. The format designed by Intel with help of Silicon Image that distributes the chips to enable the scheme, HDCP enables a secure connection between devices such as DVD players and HDTV set-top-boxes using an authentication and key exchange procedure before video and audio is presented.
Why is it important to me?
It currently may not be. It will not affect your ability to display HDTV if the source connection is Component or RGB (VGA). HDCP is designed to protect digital signals used in DVI and HDMI. Most earlier model HDTV sets do not use DVI or HDMI but with the quick implementation of HDCP compliant sets, any new purchases of plasma, projectors, and even rear projection HDTV should be compliant with this copy protection standard if the set offers DVI/HDMI.
It is important to note that HDCP is currently not a standard used in PC monitors, and almost none of these displays have Component inputs. This fact alone will deter HDTV/DVD to be displayed on a typical LCD/CRT monitor. A clear line has been defined between consumer entertainment vs. PC/Commercial product.
How does it work?
A simple answer is that an HDCP session will result in the exchange of keys between the source and display device. The source device will query the display to make sure that the equipment is HDCP compliant before video is shown. Non-HDCP devices such as PC's and older model DVI products will work with any DVI compliant display, but the HDCP compliant boxes will show an image only on HDCP compliant display.
Nearly all consumer video equipment with DVI/HDMI connectors are HDCP compliant including DVD players available on the market today. You can continue to use the component output of these devices without worry of HDCP, but expect the analog connections to slowly disappear from future products.
Other products affected by HDCP are scalers and switchers. While these devices do no authentication for key exchange, they must be able to transmit the presence of HDCP and most often require the proper on-board components to send the information on to the display. It is important to note that many manufacturers are producing products on the infancy of he format, and proper implementation often takes many tries. This is an inconvenience to the consumer in that like computers, many of their new video devices will require "upgrades", often in the form of firmware to fix or correct improper operation, which can be done via transmission (i.e. cable and satellite) or by a disk upgrade (DVD players).