the connected display is not authorized to play protected movies

Hi,

I had this "problem" as well. However, I thought about it and tried to understand why this could possibly be apple's chosen course of action. Two things occured to me. First was DRM material could be used in a manner not covered in the terms and conditions of using such content. For example you agree it is for your personal use, but if somebody connected their iPad to a tv at public location and showed a movie for a fee or even perhaps free this may breach the terms and conditions.

The second thing that occured to me is that apple has a product already on the market that does what you guys want to accomplish. It is named the Apple TV. It is designed to play DRM and DRM free media from your iOS devices and your iTunes libraries. It costs $99 (plus the cost of an HDMI cable). This product allows apple to have end to end coverage of DRM content. You may or may not want to spend additional money on such a device, but in my opinion an Apple TV is the device you need to accomplish your goals.

To my knowledge all the marketing around using cables to connect to external displays is about display mirroring. Not media playback. There may be a misunderstanding, perhaps apple should reconsider wording/marketing material. I suggest you let them know at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ because this forum is user to user and not intended to reach apple.

Best of luck!

Ohh I did let them know via feedback.

Firstly, if i really wanted to free to air a movie to bunch uf people at a business, could i just go buy a new TV that is DMR compliant and then connect up my ipad and off we go.

Secondly a question, Are you suggesting that Apple TV plays this protected content to my 2 year old Samsung flat screen?

If it has an HDMI input yes, see http://www.apple.com/appletv/

Thanks SABOTAGE, Ill check it out. $99 dollars wont break the bank and it sound like the solution, plus I get the bonus of airplay.

So my hotel room setup should work, right ?

- LAN Cable, to Airport express,

- wifi to ipad 2,

- download HD movie with copyright protection onto my ipad via itunes (rent or buy),

- then airplay to Apple TV box connected via HDMI to the TV (usualy a samsung 45" inch or something like that)

Regards Simon

Yes in theory that should, Simon.

Glad to help

Thanks a million. Luckly I travel with a big suitcase, and all theses Apple components are light. :-)

Apple also sells a product called an HDMI adapter. And "Display Mirroring" isn't really display mirroring if there isn't also content playback since content plays on the "display" as well. Some apps block HDMI output, however the Video app does not, therefor all videos should work.

Also if this excuse of "well you could hook it up to a giant TV and do a "public showing" violating copyright law" is valid, that means all purchased movies via iTunes would not play via HDMI w/secure HDCP link either. Except they do, and since "public showing"s of owned movies is also a violation of copyright law, by your logic all iTunes purchased movies should only play on Apple Devices and not on any TV Screen.

Additionally if your "solution" is to buy another $99 peripheral that logic is flawed as well considering I could hook up the Apple TV to ANY DISPLAY WITH AN HDMI PORT and AirPlay content to it and give a "public screening" in clear violation of copyright law, however I would have paid an additional $99 for the privilege.

Furthermore, Apple doesn't produce products that don't work. The HDMI adapter works for all apps that explicitly allow it as well as all Apple built in Applications and successfully plays back video of all Purchased iTunes movies. By your logic, any Apple Computer that has an HDMI port also shouldn't play DRM'd content on TVs, but they work as well.

Your logic fails entirely because the Apple TV does not give Apple "end to end DRM Management" because an HDMI cable is required to hook it up to the TV, and HDMI Cables have their own DRM standard (HDCP), so the Apple TV is inherently reliant on that technology. Until Apple makes an actual TV, it will not have end to end DRM management on any content played on a TV using an Apple TV with HDMI cord, iPad using HDMI Adapter, or Mac computer using it's HDMI port or DVI to HDMI adapter (depending on age of model).

Therefore this is a real problem (without air quotes) with DRM on certain titles, for me only rentals, not with the fact that I haven't bought an Apple TV.

Bit of an attitude there! The guys only aft some advise.

When someone's that dismissive about an actual problem and simply suggests throwing more money at it, and also suggests it's user error when we're simplying using the product(s) as advertised, it sounds like someone who has no idea what they're talking about.

Since we're talking about help, asking someone to spend $99 to solve a problem that shouldn't exist isn't really helpful to anyone.

The only possible workaround that wouldn't cost a ton of money is getting an official Apple HDMI cord since maybe the rental video DRM requires something special that a traditional HDMI's HDCP link isn't providing. Those are only $19, and if it doesn't fix anything, it's an HDMI cord and can be used with any other HDMI connectable device so it's of some use to you even if it doesn't solve the problem.

also considering this wasn't an Apple problem to begin with it was a TV manufacturer problem for not including the HDCP standard (at least when the thread started, not what it's evolved into) so spending more money with Apple isn't the solution, buying a TV made after 2009 is more of a solution.

Totally with you on this point. They should let people know upfront at point of purchase (I.e. iTunes) which content can and cannot be viewed without AppleTV....

I was getting the same thing, read these posts, and went out and bought an

Apple TV. At first I was getting a similiar message about protected content, but it also said check my HDMI cable connection. I know it wasnt falling out, and I had a cheep spare cable connected, so I swapped out for a better (not great, not apple) cable. The message went away and I could play through the AppleTV, but going back to the little HDMI adapter cable I got the same old message on the same movie. I am using a version 1 adapter, and I see

Apple has a new adapter out now, and I may try that to see if Apple has listened to any of this stuff (there are a lot of people reading this tread). The experience was not totally smooth, and the Picture did not seem the best. I eventually installed the iPhone remote app for all of this, turned on home shareing on everything, chose the movie from my phone, and everything starting working really well. (go figure, why does it work better with the iphone remote ???)

A few observations, my movies were all legitmate, on iTunes, and my TV plays the same movies if on legitimate DVD's, through a playstation, netflix, or any other player I have. Why should this little adapter be the only thing to say that the display is not authorized to play this protected content. I checked the web for this HDCP thing and found only a handfull of NEW TV's that were HDCP compliant. Apple cant expect to run a video business if it wants to suddenly implement a standard which wont work on 99 percent of the equipment people are using, and sell equipment which only works on a few select TV's without warnings and at least a transition period where the software will allow the connection, but warn you of things to come.

I have done just a little more research on this, and found that if any one piece of equipment is HDCP compliant in the chain, then all parts have to be (ie, video, player, adapters, and TV/Monitor). It looks like the video itself does not have to be HDCP compliant for things to break down if the player for instance is. So somebody mentioned that an RCA adapter did not have the same problem, so RCA must not have put the HDCP restrictions in their adapter. Somebody said in a thread somewhere else that TV's have been produced with HDCP for over 5 years now (2008 thread) but that does not seem to be the case. I also read where maybe only one HDMI port on your tv may be HDCP compliant, so you might want to get into the manuals or web site for your tv and find out. And as I mentioned before, a cheap or bad cable may be missing the wire or diode or something which permits the HDCP data to pass, so while I used to think that changing cables to solve a problem was a silly idea, now I am a believer. Beware thin HDMI cables, or ones that you cannot verify if a competent manufacturer made them. I would hope that any cable that comes in a box with good name brand equipment would be fully compliant.

Everyone save yourself £99 and use my solution!

I had exact same problem and I have found a way to get round out!!!! Easy!

So the reason it doesn't allow it to play is for security to stop piracy etc.

Plug in the cable and VGA and aux cable and get everything set up so you are looking at the home screen.

1) select Videos

2) selected the film you want to watch

3) click the little play button

4) it will then come up with the message saying it can't play protected films blah blah blah

5) WITHOUT clicking ok double tap the home button to bring up the multitasking bar and swipe left to reveal the control panel

6) hold fast forward for a second or two and the movie with continue to play!

Stay in the multi tasking bar with the control panel, The message will stay there but don't worry. Kick back and enjoy your iPad movie on the big screen:)

I'm sure your saying thanks:) it was my pleasure realising I've outsmarted apples little security protection thing lol

Signed Up just to say thanks. Genius. Really hacks me off. These companies moan about piracy. You spend hundreds buying an ipad, fork out more for an adapter and cable, pay over the odds to rent hidef from itunes, only to be told you can't play it on your tv. Some people then have the gall to suggest you but an apple tv. Beggars belief. Anyway thanks for the fix, at least there are some righteous people about.