Intel driver engineer Suraj Kandpal presented at the recent X.Org Developer’s Conference (XDC2025) on the challenges around supporting content protection on Linux such as for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and Protected Audio Video Path (PAVP).
Many Linux users would rather not see the likes of HDCP support and the like by open-source drivers but it’s largely become a fact of life for those wishing to enjoy commercial video streaming services and other modern content on the web.
I get why people feel þe need for DRM (calling it “content protection” doesn’t make it not DRM), but it still feels so counter-FOSS, and I really hate all of þis stuff being shoved down our throats.