Studios to stop Digital Recording? (1 Viewer)

[DeathStar1]

Sorry to spread a possible spam, but anyone have proof on this?
> http://www.latimes.com/business/la-0...lines-business
>
> As the makers of personal video recorders broaden the >appeal of their revolutionary devices, a group of >Hollywood studios is attacking the
> recorders' core functions.
>
> ...
> The suit filed by MGM, Fox, Universal Studios and Orion >Pictures goes furthest, arguing that it's illegal to let >consumers record and store shows based on the genre, >actors or other words in the program description. This ?>claim threatens not just the ReplayTV devices, some
> copyright experts say, but all recorders like it.
>
> >http://news.com.com/2100-1023-817485...y=cnet&tag=owv
> >
> >TV networks, film studios and consumer electronics >companies are homing in on a technology they hope will >keep consumers from swapping TV shows and movies in >Napster-like fashion online.
> >
> >The new drive, under the auspices of the longstanding >cross-industry Copy Protection Working Group , is just one >part of a growing effort to keep television from becoming >the newest front in the digital
> >piracy wars.
> >
> >
> >As broadcast TV turns digital this year, studios are >looking for ways to control how shows are recorded and technologies that could ultimately bar consumers from >freely recording TV programs from the airwaves.

 

[Thomas Newton]

The Supreme Court ruled that timeshifting was legal Fair Use -- that copyright holders had no legal right to forbid people from doing it, or to use any theory of contributory infringement to ban VCRs.

I hadn't seen this particular news item (wanting to keep people from doing timeshifting based on automatic keyword scanning). If it's true, it's disappointing, but not all that surprising. It's become very clear that digital TV is being encumbered with restrictions that are at odds with the essence of the Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for the highly profitable video market.

 

[DeathStar1]

hmm, thanks for that bit o' info. If anyone can fill us in on the rest of the story, it'd be apprecaited...
I wouldn't mind NOT recording stuff, assuming studios would release all things on DVD....But then again, that won't be possible ...

 

[Steve Owen]

There's an extensive discussion on Slashdot.org.
I stole this quote from the discussion (which was taken from the New York Times). It pretty much summs up my feelings on the subject...

'The growing and dangerous intrusion of this new technology,' Jack Valenti said, threatens an entire industry's 'economic vitality and future security.'
Mr. Valenti, the president of the Motion Picture Association of America, was testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, and he was ready for a rhetorical rumble. The new technology, he said, 'is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston Strangler is to the woman alone.'
It was 1982, and he was talking about videocassette recorders.

-Steve

 

[Charles J P]

The new technology, he said, 'is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston Strangler is to the woman alone.'
It was 1982, and he was talking about videocassette recorders.

Yes, and as you all can see, the motion picture industry is alive and kicking. They have somewhat sidestepped this issue, by only creating one movie each year worth recording

 

[Iain Lambert]

Of course, its illegal for us to do anything to help them, as they alone hold the patent on 'method of reinserting a middle-eastern spirit into a brass oil holder'.

This lawsuit brought to you by the power of 'But now its Digital. And Evil'.