The HD-DVD processing code that
unlocks copyrighted HD-DVDs is spreading around the Internet despite
attempts by the AACS Licensing Authority to stop it. Google lists
57,200 pages that contain the 16-digit hexadecimal number. That has increased substantially since Boing Boing
said there were 32,000 pages listed in Google earlier today. Social media websites like
Digg and
Reddit are greatly expediting the spread of the code. Digg initially
tried to comply with the requests to remove posts about the HD-DVD hack but the website was
overwhelmed by its users
posting the code. Eventually Digg's Kevin Rose saw which way the wind was blowing and
posted this message that includes the code right in the headline.
Rudd-O.com
says the code first appeared on Reddit.com, a Digg competitor. Search Engine Land has a
good overview of the story so far.
Meanwhile, the code continues to spread on social media websites and in the blogosphere. There's
even a song (hat tip
Scott Beale) that uses the code as its lyrics. More discussion of this topic can be found
here on Techmeme.
