Illegal to convert between "X" and HDMI now? (With just a cable - clarified)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,571
10,206
126
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/177295/20110710/apple-dell-hp-hdmi-port-cables-recall-illegal.htm

Apparently, it's not legal to make a DisplayPort to HDMI adaptor. (Edit: Correction - cable) HDMI.org, which enforces the licensing, is now saying that only "true" HDMI cables (ones with HDMI plugs on BOTH ENDS) are legal. Everything else is illegal.

Get your DisplayPort-to-HDMI adaptors NOW!

I also wonder how this affects the DVI-to-HDMI dongles included with many ATI cards.

Edit: I found another article:
http://www.tuaw.com/2011/07/08/mini-displayport-to-hdmi-cables-banned-by-hdmi-org/

In this one, it mentions that only the CABLES are illegal. "Adapter dongles", with a FEMALE HDMI jack, are NOT illegal. Only, say, the cables with an HDMI male and a DP male.

So I guess I'm safe, I don't need to rush out and purchase a boatload of dongles or cables.

So this would be illegal:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...9QYVCY8D8QKEZT
But this would not:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-D.../dp/B0017K6BDW
 
Last edited:
M

masteryoda34

Golden Member
Dec 17, 2007
1,399
3
81
Wow, I can see why the card vendors have been so anxious to dump HDMI now. These people (HDMI group) are obviously control freaks with no concept of utility.
 
mnewsham

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
Good, maybe this will spur the monitor makers to start pumping out DP monitors en masse
 
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,677
6,250
126
Not only will the UN be confiscating Guns soon, but our DP>HDMI Cables/Dongles as well. :'(
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,904
14,305
146
They can have my DisplayPort to HDMI adapter when they pry it from my cold, dead....waidaminit...I don't use either one...CRT FTW!
:p

I have considered rolling my PC out into the living room and connecting it to my 50" plasma for some gaming...:p

BUT, it would still be only ~1360x768...:(
 
ViRGE

ViRGE

Elite Member, Moderator Emeritus
Oct 9, 1999
31,516
167
106
Just to be clear it's not illegal per se. HDMI is a trademark, so they get to approve anything called HDMI as per their specifications. They won't approve DP-to-HDMI cables, and since they control the trademark the violation is including the name "HDMI" in the product's name. If you called it something else you should be able to get away with it (I don't believe they have any kind of patent on the physical attributes of the connector), but it would be so hard to for buyers to find that no one is going to bother playing that game.
 
gorobei

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,957
1,443
136
cant seem to find any on monoprice. dp to mini dp, dvi, vga are there, but no hdmi.
 
Destiny

Destiny

Platinum Member
Jul 6, 2010
2,270
1
0
It has to do with the displayport connector and HDMI connector on the same cable - they're saying there is no way to test it using HDMI testing procedures to meet their HDMI Licensing certification and HDMI Versions. Also it not "technically" an HDMI cable because it has to have two HDMI male connectors at each end to be designated a true HDMI Cable.
The DVI to HDMI cables are illegal too, but not the DVI to HDMI adapters.

A display port to HDMI adapter is okay because it will require a full HDMI cable to get it to work and connect to your HDTV or Monitor...

I can see how the display ports compete directly against Mini HDMI (Type C connectors) and Micro HDMI (Type D connectors).

THe reason why all these cables got through is because HDMI was not really enforcing anything in the past... but this past year they have been no joke based on what I read in their press releases... USA Customs have been cracking down hard from what my friends in the industry are telling me...
 
Last edited:
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
masteryoda34 said:
Wow, I can see why the card vendors have been so anxious to dump HDMI now. These people (HDMI group) are obviously control freaks with no concept of utility.
Click to expand...


But they're NOT eager. Very few nVidia cards come with DP, because it's not on the reference card.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
mnewsham said:
Good, maybe this will spur the monitor makers to start pumping out DP monitors en masse
Click to expand...

They won't, because all graphics card manufacturers aren't adopting it, despite DP being free.

nVidia didn't get the DisplayPort memo.... :thumbsdown:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=88463

The moderator says "nVidia cards don't have DP because DP hasn't taken off"

No shit it hasn't taken off you dipshit, because you didn't include it on your reference design


The admin said "...what displays are DisplayPort only? I don't really see why this is an issue for anyone."

Then he locked the topic.


There you have it. HDMI™ is fine. Nobody needs DP. So why would you even need a DP to HDMI™ cable? Clearly you must be some kind of defective human being if you ever need a DP to HDMI™ cable.
 
Last edited:
sandorski

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,677
6,250
126
ViRGE said:
Just to be clear it's not illegal per se. HDMI is a trademark, so they get to approve anything called HDMI as per their specifications. They won't approve DP-to-HDMI cables, and since they control the trademark the violation is including the name "HDMI" in the product's name. If you called it something else you should be able to get away with it (I don't believe they have any kind of patent on the physical attributes of the connector), but it would be so hard to for buyers to find that no one is going to bother playing that game.
Click to expand...

You will soon be Gitmo'd, terrorist!
 
Golgatha

Golgatha

Lifer
Jul 18, 2003
12,392
1,058
126
I've never understood why Displayport is even needed right now. I'm willing to pay the extra for HDMI since I can connect HDMI to pretty much any CE device and expect it to work with full audio and video transferring down one cable. I use a HDTV for a monitor currently because I like to hook up my XBox 360 and PS2 to it for some console gaming action. It's also nice having OTA HDTV at my computer desk as well.
 
taltamir

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
Golgatha said:
I've never understood why Displayport is even needed right now.
Click to expand...

Royalty free means saving several dollars per port, millions of cards and monitors and that adds up. Furthermore it frees you from the HDMI ruling board which is doing crazy things like exploiting trademark law to ban DP to HDMI cables.
 
A

alcoholbob

Diamond Member
May 24, 2005
6,380
448
126
Lol some of the Apple Cinema Displays only use display port and require the dongle to dvi...fail
 
I

iCyborg

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2008
1,344
61
91
taltamir said:
Royalty free means saving several dollars per port, millions of cards and monitors and that adds up. Furthermore it frees you from the HDMI ruling board which is doing crazy things like exploiting trademark law to ban DP to HDMI cables.
Click to expand...
The fee is 4c plus a flat fee of $10K for high volume manufacturers, so for someone like nVidia/AMD it's less than a cent per GPU. And this is per device, not connector/port etc., if your TV has 6 HDMI inputs, it's still ~5c fee for it. The fees are quite reasonable, though I still prefer open standards like DP.
 
B

bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
3
0
Throckmorton said:
But they're NOT eager. Very few nVidia cards come with DP, because it's not on the reference card.
Click to expand...

right, hence eager. 2 of my 3 Fermi cards have display port, guess which ones are reference and non-reference :p

Golgatha said:
I've never understood why Displayport is even needed right now. I'm willing to pay the extra for HDMI since I can connect HDMI to pretty much any CE device and expect it to work with full audio and video transferring down one cable. I use a HDTV for a monitor currently because I like to hook up my XBox 360 and PS2 to it for some console gaming action. It's also nice having OTA HDTV at my computer desk as well.
Click to expand...

I have two monitors where HDMI is simply incapable of fully driving them. One is a 1920x1080 monitor of which HDMI is simply unable to push its 120Hz refresh rate. The other is 2560x1440 but using HDMI will automatically reduce the resolution to 1920x1080.

Heck, HDMI still falls short of dual-link DVI in that regard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom