HDMI Org Deem Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI Cables Illegal

The Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cables used mainly by Apple in their Mac range of computers will now have to search for another solution. The company behind HDMI, HDMI Org has stated that the manufacturers of these cables have been told that their products are unlicensed and should not be sold. According to a report by Tech Radar, HDMI Org has 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.

Going the way of dinosaurs!

According to the report, the company explained that 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. All HDMI products undergo compliance testing as defined by the Compliance Testing Specification. HDMI Org went on to state that the CTS (Cognizant Technology Solutions) 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.

This comes as a major setback to companies such as Apple, Toshiba, HP and Dell who all supply their products with these ports. As of now there is no concrete solution to the connectivity option that is used to connect these computers to an HDTV for mirroring video content unless one is to rush to the market now and pick up a cable before they are removed from the shelves.