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HDMI Org: Millions of Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables are unlicensed, must be recalled

Saturday, July 9, 2011 · 1:02 pm · 57 Comments

“HDMI Org has confirmed that manufacturers of Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables have been told that their product is unlicensed and should not be sold,” Marc Chacksfield reports for TechRadar UK.

“HDMI Org has exclusively contacted TechRadar about the situation and confirmed that any cable that has a DP male connector on one end and an HDMI male connector is unlicensed and should not be on sale,” Chacksfield reports. “HDMI Org explained to TechRadar that there were a number of reasons for this. ‘The HDMI specification defines an HDMI cable as having only HDMI connectors on the ends. Anything else is not a licensed use of the specification and therefore, not allowed… The CTS clearly defines necessary tests for all products defined in the HDMI Specification. Since this new cable product is undefined in the Specification, there are no tests associated with this product. It cannot be tested against the Specification.’”

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Chacksfield reports, “There may also be a glimmer of hope, in that HDMI Org does understand that there is a need for this type of cable: ‘We do recognise that there may be a market need for a cable solution rather than a dongle solution. However, at this time, there is no way to produce these cable products in a licensed manner.’”

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Comment Feed

57 Comments

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Ballmer's left nut

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:14 pm · Reply

As I don’t use any of this shit, frankly I couldn’t care less.
- MAChiavelli
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:21 pm · Reply
  
  here, here
  - Meeble
    
    Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:21 pm · Reply
    
    I think you mean hear, hear.
    - Bonkers
      
      Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 3:34 pm · Reply
      
      there, there.
      - Malvado
        
        Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 6:56 pm · Reply
        
        You mean thear thear
        
        rolly1
        
        Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 7:37 pm · Reply
        
        Now, now…
Julia Gillard

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:34 pm · Reply

Yeeeah they can go to hell.
- mdmac
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 9:22 pm · Reply
  
  A “licensed” cable!?! Blow me!
jltnol

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:37 pm · Reply

This is just funny! Really.. a RECALL on CABLES?!? What.. are they afraid that if someone tries to strangle someone with it, it won’t work right?

Just ANOTHER example of the rich getting RICHER. Money for Nothing!
- PSGInfinity
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:43 pm · Reply
  
  And/Or an example of busybodies sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong.
- botoncandy
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:46 pm · Reply
  
  I am so looking forward to everything being wireless.
  - paul
    
    Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 8:29 pm · Reply
    
    Here here!!
    - TMS Ruge
      
      Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 8:54 am · Reply
      
      I think you mean “hear, hear”
      - Paul
        
        Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 3:46 pm · Reply
        
        I know what I mean. Look it up.
        
        cg
        
        Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 4:27 pm · Reply
        
        Lol, ok (or okay…)
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear#cite_note-nytimes-hear-0
        
        paul
        
        Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 4:54 pm · Reply
        
        Blimey, blow me down like a feather duster. I stand corrected. Now I don’t know if I should say “there, there” or “their, their”, or “i would of…” or “I would have…” . My entire world is upside down right now!
- ttringle
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 3:17 pm · Reply
  
  No it’s just that the HDMI jerkoffs have to include DRM for things like Cable TV etc. And if it’s a mini display port (a competitor to HDMI BTW) to HDMI cable it doesn’t support (supposedly) HDCP, even though I know most of them do. They are just trying to protect their business in this era of everybody with a product wanting to be able to LICENSE it instead of just out and out selling the product. That way they can keep coming back and gouging you more in licensing fees (company to company in this case) every year.
  
  Jerks the whole lot of em.
A. Balmy

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 1:46 pm · Reply

Placed my order on the Apple Store this morning. Hopefully, I’ll get it.
Almux

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:04 pm · Reply

Not any “monopolistic” behavior, here??
Bandit Bill

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:07 pm · Reply

I’ve sold hundreds of these cables. I kind of doubt anyone is going to return them. We sell a 6′ MDP to HDMI cable for $19. A MDP to HDMI dongle is $29, then the customer need to buy an HDMI cable on top of that for $16 (total $45 retail).

It will be interesting to see if we will have to stop selling these cables and if they expect us to try and recall them.
- Sucker
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:13 pm · Reply
  
  Those cables must be recalled because someone might try to use one to pirate a BluRay movie with one. And we wouldn’t want that to happen. ;^)
  - JBakes
    
    Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 8:18 pm · Reply
    
    Bingo. That’s what this is all about.
Paul Johnson

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:08 pm · Reply

This is not a big problem. Mini-DP to HDMI female receptable cables (dongles) are licensed. Get a Mini-Display Port to HDMI female receptable dongle, like the Moshi Mini-DP to HDMI adapter on the Apple website or a Monoprice version. Then buy a HDMI male to male cable, and you’re ready to go.
- Paul Johnson
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 9:18 pm · Reply
  
  By the way, Monoprice sells one mini-DP to HDMI female dongle that does not support the “audio pass-through to monitor” feature in the Sound preferences panel of newer Macs (lower stock number) and one that does (higher stock number), so read the description carefully when you order from them.
The Other Steve

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:09 pm · Reply

Already bought my Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. ($6.18 + shipping) Works great.
Guess I’m going to have to pack it up and sent it back now.
- qka
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:21 pm · Reply
  
  You need to learn to read closely. Dongles are OK. See Paul Johnson comment immediately above.
  - The Other Steve
    
    Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 5:07 pm · Reply
    
    Yes, you are correct.
    What’s the difference between that and a cable with a dongle on the end?
    - Paul Johnson
      
      Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 5:37 pm · Reply
      
      The dongle has an HDMI female-type receptacle on one end and a mini-DP male-type plug on the other, and is 4-6 inches long. The cable has an HDMI male-type plug on one end and a mini-DP male-type plug on the other, and is probably at least one foot in length.
qka

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:17 pm · Reply

This is another case of intellectual property use. Do you support the rights of the owners? Do you support the rights of the unlicensed users/manufacturers.

Or is it OK for Apple (and Apple accessory manufacturers) but wrong for everyone else (Google, Samsung, Microsoft)?

Sometimes the hypocrisy around here gets pretty deep.
- Brau
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 3:56 pm · Reply
  
  “there is no way to produce these cable products in a licensed manner”.
  
  If you think this is about “morality” and “patent rights”, think again and don’t be so easily led. This cable recall is a DRM issue aimed at making sure people can’t access those precious HDMI signals on their PCs. God knows we can’t have people recording shows to watch later – we all know how the VCR killed TV and movies.
  - paul
    
    Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 10:37 pm · Reply
    
    Find that hard to believe. You mean i could defeat their wonderful DRM, HDCP scheme in which they have invested billions merely by cobbling up a male HDMI connector?
    
    How does an electrical signal know it is traveling on an “male HDMI wire” as opposed to a “female HDMI wire”
    - Rufus den Zeeperd
      
      Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 11:45 am · Reply
      
      We should be in fear for homosexual electrons…
- GM
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 5:39 pm · Reply
  
  Fanboys. That’s what you are dealing with here. Immature little momma’s boys. They wouldn’t last 5 minutes if they ever left the comfort of mom’s basement.
  - paul
    
    Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 8:37 pm · Reply
    
    Nooooooo, that would be android loving “I want everything for free” dimwits like you. Apple fanboys on the other hand can actually afford to buy their apps and toys AND afford to live away from mommy and daddy.
    - GM
      
      Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 10:36 pm · Reply
      
      Touched a nerve didn’t I dimwit? You sound as bright as a 15 watt light bulb. Dopey.
      - paul
        
        Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 11:16 pm · Reply
        
        Ha ha ha, just proves it! Thanks.
        
        pandora
        
        Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 11:22 pm · Reply
        
        Here! Here!
Al

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:23 pm · Reply

My cable works just fine for connecting the computer to the HDTV. However in an inquiry I would find that I have lost it.
Cubert

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 2:58 pm · Reply

Are they serious? My cable works just fine and was bought legitimately.

Wait, who are those guys in dark suits and sunglasses knocking on my door…..
Jafo

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 3:12 pm · Reply

if the cable needs to be recalled because the specification of the cable does not exist, can you not sell the cable with another name? Like Mini Display Port to TV (modern connection).
leodavinci1

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 4:30 pm · Reply

Rationally, one would think it might just be easier and more effective for HDMI Org to test these cables and just approve or fail them, on a cable by cable basis, rather than do this.

But that wouldt be consumer friendly.
BL5

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 4:40 pm · Reply

Hey HDMI.org! Go pound sand you lazy bag of bones. Since you see a need, get off your hind end and do something worth while. Try a bit of responsiveness to the consumer base you blood sucking jackals!
RDF

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 4:48 pm · Reply

Good luck with that.
ken1w

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 5:04 pm · Reply

So an adapter dongle plus a separate HDMI cable is allowed, but a single cable (with one less connection point to worry about) is NOT. That’s silly.
- paul
  
  Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 8:45 pm · Reply
  
  Thats the kind of Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter world we live in.
phone for HDMI Org

Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 11:45 pm · Reply

“However, at this time, there is no way to produce these cable products in a licensed manner”

Asia just called. But I’m not sure what it said, I couldn’t make out any words through all the laughter.
Jersey_Trader

Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 8:55 am · Reply

They work or they would already be returned. No recall would be required. So, up date your up tight testing procedures. Idiots.
Paul

Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 4:27 pm · Reply

I guess I should explain it a bit more since many people seem to not know this. English is a funny language and many people have a hard time getting their head around certain phrases…..one of which is “here here!” as opposed to “hear hear”. Actually there is no such thing as “hear hear”.

By way of example, what do you say when a child falls down. No, it is not “their their”. It is in fact “there there”. So it is with “here here”.

Oh another note…..hate it when people say, “I would of……”. It should in fact be, “I would have….”. There is NO such thing as, “…would of…”.

I could go on but I won’t.
- Chaucer
  
  Monday, July 11, 2011 - 12:40 am · Reply
  
  It’s an old phrase of support, meaning “listen up,” essentially. It’s “hear hear.” No semantic connection exists between “hear hear” and “there there.”
- Meeble
  
  Monday, July 11, 2011 - 8:26 am · Reply
  
  Thanks for your (wholly incorrect) explanation.
  
  http://unbecominglevity.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/11/10/3970914.html
- 5thgrader
  
  Monday, July 11, 2011 - 8:41 am · Reply
  
  Apparently, so funny that you can’t get your head around it. But, thanks. Got quite a kick out of your ignorance, after a little cry over just how much our educational system has failed us (well, you).
  
  http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1489/why-do-people-say-hear-hear
  
  And people aren’t saying “would of”. They’re saying “would’ve”.
  
  But, please, do go on. Your amyoosing.
vegasgeorge

Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 8:45 pm · Reply

I foresee a Columbian cable cartel springing up any moment!