Use of earlier AACS

[setarip_old]

Blu-ray AACS is presently up to AACS 25 or higher.

Does anyone KNOW why a new release (latest "Transformers", for example) would use AACS 19?

[Mug Funky]

off the top of my head i can imagine the possibility that there's been reports of discs on the new MKB that can't play on a large number of models.

with a big title like Transformers, i'd be loathe to put out a disc that's just gonna get returned to the shop (and therefore back to the manufacturer) and further damage the reputation of blu-ray when downloads are fast approaching the same quality with much more convenience.

i love speculation. but i'm thinking that this scenario may well be closer to the truth than you might think.

returned stock is damaging the distribution channels in a big way, because retailers are getting ahead of themselves and negotiating the ability to return unsold stock rather than deal with having to sell it. a bad month of returns can and does sink entire companies.

[setarip_old]

@Mug Funky

Hi!

I guess that somehow, that might be a possibility and, as you said, you love to speculate ;>} - although the MKB/AACS is just a series of numbers that either match or don't. So I'd lean away from that being the reason.

Perhaps someone with specific knowledge of the underlying reason will come forth.

Thanks again...

[derbeDeus]

Try to look at the timestamp of the files on the disc. Some discs are made a long time ago before they are out on the market.

[Mug Funky]

the point of the sequence of numbers is that if they don't match, the disc doesn't play.

say a popular model just got revoked. say that model has 10% market penetration. that's 10% of people who are unable to play a disc they paid for.

that would directly translate to a 10% return rate, in addition to whatever percentage they had already projected. no company is going to accept that risk on a big release.

now, having said that, the distributor doesn't have much play in what MKB is used - that comes at glass mastering at the replicator. this doesn't mean the distributor can't insist the discs be pressed on an old MKB.

perhaps the big studios are finally seeing that there are greater risks to their business model than piracy - namely the collapse of the retail market in favour of (legal and not-so-legal) VOD services.

[setarip_old]

@derbeDeus

You could be on to something:

"Captain America", released today, uses AACS 20 - files are dated April 27, 2011...


**EDIT** But no - "Winnie the Pooh", also released today, also uses AACS 20 - some files are dated June 5, 2011