Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Series 1 update requirement by 3/31/11

This is topic Series 1 update requirement by 3/31/11 in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-03-2011, 08:59 AM:

Has everyone heard and headed the news that ALL series 1 projectors (including Barco: DP90, DP100, DP1200, DP1500, DP2000, DP3000; Christie CP2000(all); NEC NC-800C, NC-1500C, NC-1600C, NC-2500S) are to be required to have a major (hardware) security update?

Better yet, failure to perform this expensive update (typically between $3000-$5000 per projector...depending on brand and rebate plans offered) can be grounds for denying DCP content for being in violation of current DCI specs.

The security update typically involves the replacement of the, brand-specific, controller board of the particular cinema projector. The replacement board will be wrapped in what is called a GORE covering that effectively makes the board commit suicide in the event it loses power for more than 6-months, is handled even marginally harsh (press to hard on it and it dies). The idea is, there will be no way to get to the electronics on the board. It is reasonably easy to damage the board just on installing it.

We were told, at first, that only those theatres that collect VPFs in some manner (AccessIT/Cinedigm type deals) would be required since it was the VPFs that could be withheld if the updates were not done/verified (polling the projector remotely can show if the projector is suitably updated).

There is now an ugly rumor that VPFs or not, the studios will be requiring it. This I have not been able to verify nor figure out how they would know if you have or have not updated. As most know, the KDMs do not tie to the projector itself...just the player (mediablock). The player is only concerned about the Cinelink (I or II as appropriate) connection with the projector.

Has anyone out there got any real facts on this?

The text that I have seen has stated:

quote:
the Exhibitor is responsible for the

Projector to be retrofitted by March 31, 2011 with either the Gore security

modification or the glued cable security modification. This is a

contractual exhibitor obligation per the studios’ requirement for compliance

with the DCI Spec...Failure to meet this deadline could result in the studios

not booking digital content on your digital systems.

With something as large as this looming within this month, I would think there would have been chatter about it on the board. However it seems almost stealthy in nature...some exhibitors got emails...many did not. There hasn't been much talk in the tech circles either. Christie has issued their "Security Update" but one almost had to be looking for it, it seems...if you get it, the software is there for all of the CP2000s, regardless of suffix. Barco and NEC have been seemingly even more quiet on the subject.

On the up side...at least for Barco (and probably the rest)...the update will turn that projector into an HDCP compliant projector (nice for things like DP100s that were probably never going to be updated any other way for HDCP).

-Steve

Posted by David Zylstra (Member # 4230) on 03-03-2011, 10:49 AM:

I heard it was supposed to be all series 1, not just the VPF governed ones - I'm not sure how they will determine compliance in the field for units not under a monitoring deal.

I think many client-dealer relationships may get strained if there is additional $$ needed to keep recieving studio content for series 1 projectors that were sold within the last few years (i.e. for a 10 screen this is a $30,000-$50,0000 expense).

The GORE board has been discussed in some circles for a while now (I knew about the upcoming requirement over 2 years ago). I have also noticed the lack of detailed information being put out there. I understand from a few sources that there is a significant out of box failure rate - any sharp bump by the UPS truck during delivery may trip the security and render a board useless.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 03-04-2011, 03:20 AM:

Haha, great idea. So in the future any bump or slight earth shake, ultrasonic boom or similiar events may blow your projector useless. I hope someone will sue these jerks to death when shows fail.

The projector manufacturers should simply ignore this idea. It's time to get a standing against the studios. I can hardly believe this, since 3/31/11 is too short for this to be accomplished anyway.
Quite a few of these system should still be under basic dealer warranties.

Yet what is meant by this alternative way to accomplish compliance?

'or the glued cable security modification.'

Glueing a cable seems a lot easier to me than exchanging a board ;-)

- Carsten

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-04-2011, 08:24 AM:

Christie is using the "glued cable" method and Barco is using the GORE board. We don't have any series-1 NECs in our service so I have not investigated their solution.

The results are the same though...glued cable and GORE board have the same net result...the board is wrapped in a sensitive covering that commits suicide if treated a little poorly.

I don't think an earthquake could set it off since, once the board is in the projector, nothing is touching the covering of the board anymore.

-Steve

Posted by Amanda Mundin (Member # 3386) on 03-04-2011, 11:19 AM:

So do all Series 2 projectors have this suicidal GORE board already installed from new?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-04-2011, 11:34 AM:

No...they are completely different. They have an "enigma" board associated with the HDSDI inputs. You can tell the eingima...it is a metal bricks that just screams "stay away."

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-04-2011, 02:03 PM:

This is what I know.

The movie studios are in agreement that this new update is as close to the level of Series 2 security that they will get, and have agreed upon using it. This is because it is apparently easy to tie into the series 1 projectors to bootleg the crap Hollywood is making. (Not that this "upgrade" will stop anyone from videotaping the screen.)

The issue now is whether theaters can continue running movies on their series 1 projectors without this expensive upgrade. Theaters in VPF deals supposedly have deadlines once the kits are "commercially available", but that's the issue on the definition of "commercially available" since production is just now getting going.

Many people believe this issue will go away on its own and are not upgrading, and some theaters believe if the studios want this upgrade done that the studios should pay for it.

Personally, I believe anyone not in a VPF deal should NOT be out the extra expense, but should be willing to do the upgrade if the parts are supplied by the studios at no cost and a reasonable field tech fee is paid per machine to have them installed.

Bear in mind the studios can always throw a tissy and enforce it at any point they want, but as we all know they cannot do this overnight or it would hurt their bottom line.

From everything I've heard, unless you're tied to a VPF deal, just sit on it and hold your ground unless the studios put a gun to your head. However if the theaters would get together and hold their ground (unlikely), the studios would end up having to pay for this if they want it done.

Somebody really needs to remind the studios their crap isn't good enough to warrant the hassle of bootlegging. Whatever. [Roll Eyes]

Anyone with more specific info please feel free to correct me.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 03-04-2011, 04:53 PM:

http://www.gore.com/en_xx/products/electronic/anti-tamper/anti-tamper-respondent.html

- Carsten

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-05-2011, 04:16 PM:

Note that home video will have the titles about as soon as we will; hence no need for security. Louis

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 03-05-2011, 05:52 PM:

Security level 3 will be to embed a a GORE chip in the viewer's brain when he walks into the theatre; as soon as he's finished watching a movie, when he walks out of the theatre thru GORE beams, the movie is erased from this memory.

Should he try to bypass the security chip and tell anyone what the movie is about or even hum the title theme, in other words, try to divulge the studio's intellectual, proprietary, copyrighted property, it will activate the Gore shield and evaporate those cells in his brain.

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 03-06-2011, 07:31 PM:

Okay, so enlighten me.

Theater owners buy series 1 projectors in the rush to provide 3D and keep up with the competition. Then, the studios discover that the projectors are not foolproof and their product can be bootlegged.

So, the studios decide that the exhibitors should pay to safeguard their product? If I am wrong, please correct my conclusion.

If I am correct, then this whole industry is nuts, and there are some serious restraint of trade issues that need to be addressed.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-06-2011, 08:17 PM:

Presumably, the people who bought the previous generation of equipment knew that what they were buying did not and could not meet DCI specifications without future upgrades or modifications. Since the film distributors (err..."content providers") indicated that they would be requiring compliance with the DCI specifications in the future, I don't really see why the buyers of the equipment would have any reason to complain.

That said, this is a pretty bad PR move on the part of the equipment manufacturers and content providers, and it will discourage many exhibitors from converting to [dlp]

. For PR and customer-service reasons, the upgrade should be heavily subsidized.

And, yes, the industry _is_ nuts, and has been for quite some time.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 03-06-2011, 10:11 PM:

Please don'r act surprised by this (nuts.) Louis

Posted by David Stone (Member # 4846) on 03-10-2011, 08:30 PM:

Hi everyone,

I just received an email from the aussie suppliers that there is a mandatory hardware upgrade coming for doremi servers.

Has anyone heard anything,

Cheers,

David.

Posted by Larry Zuverink (Member # 1483) on 01-20-2012, 02:40 PM:

"On the up side...at least for Barco (and probably the rest)...the update will turn that projector into an HDCP compliant projector (nice for things like DP100s that were probably never going to be updated any other way for HDCP). "

Christie is not. We just had our circuit upgraded and it definitely does not upgrade the series 1 projectors to HDCP. There are versions that do but if you are under a Cinedigm contract, it will not.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-20-2012, 03:01 PM:

Larry,

Christie has a program where you may trade in an existing board for an equivalent board that has the Glue Cable cover on it. In that situation, then no you will not be HDCP compliant. However, if you get a type-5 board (HDCP compliant with Security Cover) then your Christie will then be HDCP compliant. Barco only offers the upgrade rather than just a swap. Barco gives you a credit back on your board, regardless of Type...Christie will only give a credit back on specific board types.

-Steve

Posted by Paul H. Rayton (Member # 1817) on 01-20-2012, 06:50 PM:

According to the calendar, it is now 2012. What about that "deadline" that was in March 2011? I haven't heard of anyone's screens going dark from lack of this device. Has anybody?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-21-2012, 04:47 AM:

As I stated originally, I don't see how the studios will know if you have updated or not except in VPF theatres since those are the theatres where one can monitor the projector and it will identify if it has a board with the "security enclosure."

-Steve

Posted by Larry Zuverink (Member # 1483) on 01-22-2012, 02:28 PM:

Sorry Steve,
I wrote that kind of bad. Basically if your on the Cinedigm plan do not expect HDCP compliance.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 01-22-2012, 02:32 PM:

You must still be writing it bad because you can be on the Cinedigm plan AND be HDCP compliant! There is no conflict there. If you have a Christie projector and you want the cheapest way to compliance and your projector presently does not have an HDCP board, then yes, you will likely receive a security enabled version of your non-compliant board. However, for relatively little more cost (don't get the rebate that is somewhere near $1K), then your projector will be HDCP compliant and good-to-go with Cinedigm too. For $1K...one would be a fool not to do it if they have any thoughts of "Alternate Content"

-Steve

Posted by Larry Zuverink (Member # 1483) on 01-24-2012, 01:59 PM:

Yes, Must be. One more time. Cinedigm is doing the security upgrade in a way which does not include the HDCP. I'm sure if we were willing to pay for the HDCP upgrade than it is availble. Clear?

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 01-25-2012, 01:24 PM:

Wait...does this mean the HD-SDI cables can no longer be disconnected to accommodate alternative sources, such as HDCAM decks?

This could affect how we run video for the two film festivals I oversee projection for, which is in a theatre equipped with Christie CP2000-ZXs. We've been trying to find a way to wean ourselves from scalers, but this development will be a step backward.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 01-25-2012, 04:48 PM:

I think you got it wrong. All connectors will be the same with this upgrade. Only that with this board, the DVI connector supports HDCP.

- Carsten