09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

http://dsingleton.co.uk/archive/hd-dvd-drama/2007/05/02/

There’s a bit of an internet drama about this number.

Basically, it’s a code used in HD DVD copy protection. Since it was hacked/found it’s been possible to watch/copy HD DVD and completely ignore the DRM crap on the disc. Now this happened back in January, Slashdot reported on it, as did a few other sites, and everything went quiet.

Recently a few blogs have been discussing the issue and printing the number. They started getting cease and desist letters from MPAA lawyers which has just brought the whole thing to the attention of more people.

What’s interesting is how social bookmarking and ‘community powered’ sites are being affected. Digg tried to suppress the story and has felt a backlash of epic proportions and an eventual response/turnaround from Digg founder Kevin Rose. Although in my opinion, it’s too little too late and this will have done a lot of damage to Digg’s reputation.

Last night searching google for the code now brings up almost 300,000 results. In attempt to sweep this under the carpet it’s now sweeping across the net like wild fire. A very good example of the Streisand Effect.

However discussion of the number on Wikipedia is still completely blocked, any article mentioning or even referencing it is immediately reverted and if it keeps happening, gets locked.
This whole thing is very interesting from the point of view of freedom of information, copyright on the internet and just how free are community driven sites like Digg or Reddit, or perhaps more importantly Wikipedia?