Mini-HDMI cables classified as illegal

HDMI Org, the organisation that oversees the classification and manufacturing of HDMI cables, has made a judgement that Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables are unlicensed and should not be sold.

Each HDMI cable has to undergo testing and adhere to a certain set of industry specifications, and it has come to light that these mini-HDMI cables don’t meet the mustard. It was rumoured last week that these cables would be recalled, as they didn’t meet the specification requirements.

As to why the decision was taken to remove them from market, HDMI Org said that any cable that has a DisplayPort male connector on one end and an HDMI male connector on the other is unlicensed.

“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,” the organisation told TechRadar.

Many companies make use of the Mini DisplayPort to HDMI cables, including Apple and Toshiba, and HDMI Org doesn’t realise there is a need for such a 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.”

Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor