Bloggers who published high definition encryption key have 'crossed the line'

The ramifications surrounding the publication of a high definition encryption key around the web continue to rumble on.

In lieu of any decent news about exciting HD products (which seem to have been squashed a bit over the past few days), here's 'news' that those bloggers who published the key on their site could be in trouble.

Michael Ayers of the AACS told the BBC:

"There is no intent from us to interfere with people's right to discuss copy protection. We respect free speech. They can discuss the pros and cons. We know some people are critical of the technology."

"But a line is crossed when we start seeing keys being distributed and tools for circumvention. You step outside of the realm of protected free speech then."

Of course, you can't copyright a single number - it's what you do with that number that counts. I could imagine people posting the number on their sites without making any statement about it. In context, people know what it is, but in reality it's just a number.

Notice that we didn't publish the number here, though it did miraculously turn up in the comments. I guess we'll just await a call from the AACS LA?

The fact is that the number is out in the wild, now, and prosecuting bloggers who published it won't rein it back in. It simply draws even more attention to it.