According to Engadget, a DRM hacker named "arnezami" has found the "processing key" that can decrypt all HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc films. This is huge. Previously, there were ways of recovering the keys that controlled the individual disc, but you had to have a different key for each title. Now, one tool, with this key embedded in it, will be able to decrypt every disc that's been produced to date.

This kind of thing just shows the futility of DRM as a solution for protecting copyrighted works. At 20Gb per movie and $25 for a blank disc, there's no imminent threat, but it's a portent of things to come.

The technology is designed so that processing keys can be revoked, so this will only work for movies out now discs made with that key. Discs going forward will undoubtedly have a new processing key. They'll also make it harder to find the key, but it's only a matter of time until the next exploit becomes available. The individual title keys can't be revoked, so even though they're more trouble, they work forever.