Well, I've installed the OEM package of Rollup 2 for MCE 2005 a few days ago and I noticed a couple of the prime-time shows I recorded tonight had "Copy Protected" in the program info.

Uh-oh. Is this like TiVo's "Red Flags"?

I often get poor ATSC reception so I record analog cable and ATSC when I can. Both ATSC and analog cable recordings have been tagged as protected.

The exact shows and stations were:
Nip/Tuck: FX (Analog)
Bones, House: WBFF (Analog) and WBFF-DT (ATSC)
Law & Order SVU: WBAL (Analog) and WBAL-DT (ATSC)

Cable provider is Comcast, OTA stations are Maryland/DC area.

Anyone else seeing Copy Protected on OTA or basic cable? Also, how much does it restrict the content? Unlike TiVo, "Keep Until" isn't limited, but I haven't tried to edit or burn anything Copy Protected yet.

Good question, sounds scary to me.

I have seen copy protected on recordings since "upgrading" to rollup 2. however i have had no problems copying, converting re-encoding burning etc so i'm happy it's just a scare tactic for me.

I  use telewest digital cable through a hauppauge 150 card, so it could be that the copy protect flag in the stream is stripped by using the analog output on my cable box.

As far as I know it's detecting CGMS flags. HBO has an excellent FAQ about how it's used HERE

This is what causes DRM to be applied to some recordings, giving you the "Restricted Content" screen if you play it on another computer or extender. Also, CGMS allows content providers to specify a lifetime, after which you'll get "Content Expired".

MCE does not use CGMS to prohibit burning DVDs or transcoding the content unless the provider specifies "no copies!" HBO doesn't even do that. However, if the video applications you are using are not DRM aware, they won't know how to unlock the recording. That's not a limit imposed by the content providers or MCE.

I know premium channels and PPV have always been copy protected, but why are we getting this on basic cable? Maybe it's because MCE pre-rollup-2 only detected the old Macrovision signal. Now CGMS is being detected. CGMS flags are everywhere, but if no restrictions are being set by the providers, you won't see a difference.

I tried to record prison beak. It failed and gave me a message about the content owner not allowing the show to be recorded. If this is a sign of things to come, I'm dumping mce. Is this what other people have been seeing?

No... that sounds like a bug. Only some premium, on-demand, and PPV content should ever give you that.

I've seen the "Copy Protected" description show up in some cable TV and ATSC recordings if I checked the Program Info during the recording. But once the recording finished, the Program Info no longer shows it. And I was able to burn those recordings to DVD without a problem. It seems like a minor bug in rollup2, because it definitely shouldn't show up in any ATSC recordings.

So if the recording's info doesn't indicate "Copy Protected" once its finished recording, you shouldn't worry. Has anything you've recorded since installing rollup2 been limited in any way?

 

 

Funny, I've recorded every episode of Prison Break in high definition. Never had that problem.

I've noticed the "copy protected" message in program info (mostly HBO) before Rollup 2.  So I'm not sure Rollup 2 added anything, unless it now pays attention to the copy protection.

I'm more concerned with content expiration.  I haven't had anything expire yet, but if content is allowed to expire, it would be nice to have some sort of warning.  Even an expiration date in the program info would help.

Has anyone had content expire in MCE?

Just a warning, its not just MCE:

Many many coworkers have been complaining that just about every dvr is no longer recording certain hbo shows. Troy is the one example everyone agrees cannot be recorded. This includes cable company dvrs, tivos, etc etc etc.

Personally, I'm about ready to start campaigning against hbo channels and how everyone should cancel the hbo and cinemax packages from their providers until they allow dvrs to record. Not everyone is available when its on or works during the day. It must be some form of discrimination.

(PSSSST: Mce only listens to copy protection when it shows up at the tuner).

EDITED: Sorry, the show I meant was rome

It's definiatly copy protected and i think i may be the first to have experience it.

Take a look.

 

Were you running the beta and then updated to the full rollup2? I heard some with the beta complain about this.

There are other threads here that are pre rollup2 that discuss the problem with Extenders and HBO not showing protected content.  See: http://www.thegreenbutton.com/community/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=58&MessageID=126507

No i actually got  Rollup 2 from ms OEM site.

i dont have cable or satellie, i just use over the air antenna, and i had a copy protection listing added for my david letterman show on cbs.. it thought that was odd..

i think i may just wait until its officially released in a month.. ive noticed a few other buggy features in this..