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> my boss just asked me to buy the memerbership

I just spoke to a friend who, as a consultant, was tasked with verifying that a "motherboard" for a projector conformed to the HDMI specs. He'd gotten a bunch of measurements and numbers in a document, and asked if he couldn't get the full spec as it would be easier to understand what to do.

He was told they had the specification but it was at headquarters in Belgium, on a computer that was not connected to the internet. He'd have to fly there, view it on the computer and write off what was needed... which was exactly what someone had done to make the document he'd gotten.




What does this accomplish? Is there some existentially significant licensing concern that justifies requiring such an onerous process to vet access?


From what I gather the HDMI group wants to ensure something marked HDMI just works when plugged into another HDMI device. I guess this gate-keeping is part of it.


HDMI essentially only exists for DRM reasons (i.e. controlling who can make compatible devices); open specs are antithetical to that purpose.


The DRM often conflated with HDMI (HDCP) existed years before the first HDMI cable was sold. Or were you saying DRM when it comes to a physical port specification? In which case, that wouldn't really be digital rights management.


Yes, DisplayPort is the only good standard. Hopefully, HDMI will disappear one day.


Ironically enough, a quick Google found the HDMI spec --- even in this day of horrible search results.


Right, but for a device that's to be sold on the market, would you trust some random PDF from Google?

Low volume, expensive products like the one my friend got the job for or consumer products, having to do a recall and board replacement will not be a fun experience for those involved.




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