Hdmi version ???

Apparently manufacturers are no longer allowed to state which particular version of this do-everything-sometimes wiring protocol they are using in their product. In other words you no longer will be readily able to glean which generation of HDMI a product is offering. This is a recent mandate from the consortium responsible for this connectivity protocol and is no doubt a result of the confusion that is associated with versions 1.1 through to 1.4. I find it interesting that they are able to mandate the representation of the specification to consumers, possibly not though in the consumers best interests ...the manufacturers will not even be allowed to write the HDMI version number in the manual. If they do they will not be allowed to renew their manufacturing license.

These licenses are strongly policed, the original example in the audio industry is of course the Dolby corporation who are the absolute specialists in litigation of transgressors of their ubiquitous technologies. Currently there is a Blu Ray mechanism that is known for it's ability to have chip additive and become zone bypassable. Word is that they are going to suffer the heavy hand of consortium legal action ... please keep your heads down Mr BBK mechanism...

In a typical AV Receiver there are no less than 29 of these licenses that have to be paid to the various interested bodies that own patents and rights to the technology concerned. Typically there will be a yearly up front fee and a price per unit made for each licence.
In the case of that aforesaid typical receiver they will add up to about $70 at manufacturers cost, once you work out the multipliers from raw cost to retail one can see that a substantial portion of your end price as a consumer is actually made up of license fees ..