MPAA Countersues 321 Studios 315
Squash writes "321 Studios, makers of DVD X-Copy, is being Counter-sued by the MPAA. You may remember them filing suit to allow thier software to be produced and sold. Interesting point: the MPAA wants to claim all profits from sales of the software, which is now being bundled with some DVD burners."
Did anyone else think (Score:5, Funny)
I confess (Score:2)
It was only while reading through the actual article that I understood it as the name of a company. How freaky!
Re:I confess (Score:2)
Another dumb tech-era company name. Good thing they go out of business so fast.
Re:Did anyone else think (Score:5, Funny)
No... technically there were only 136 studios, but some of them were using 4x dvd burners. The post should read "MPAA Countersues the equivalent of 321 studios".
Re:Did anyone else think (Score:2)
Therefore estimating the number of "humanly significant" numbers is the problem. It's useful, as we've seen, because it will allow us to tell random statistics from human picked out numbers: for example, 321 Studios vs. 321 studios.
Off the top of my head, here are the numbers that might really stand out to me: 000,111,...,666,...999,123,321,314(seen pi too often),271(e), and probably the first few primes (002,003,005,007).
That's about 20 numbers off the top of my head. Even if we imagine 50 numbers as the upper limit for "humanly significant" numbers between 000 and 999, then that is still only a 3-5% chance of getting one of those numbers in a single trial. That, of course, doesn't mean much on its own, but in combination with other known probabilities (they multiply!), it can be used to make judgements.
HUH?? (Score:2, Insightful)
Isn't the US the country where you can legally purchase a gun but where killing people is illigal? I mean that's actually somehow (not totally) the same. You have got a tool, you use a tool...
You confuse me...
Re:HUH?? TROLL Alert (Score:2)
I'm so confused...
Re:As a guy who doesn't like guns I'd just like . (Score:2, Funny)
i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:5, Insightful)
so i cant copy dvds i have authored myself? especially since this is being bundled with burners
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:5, Insightful)
> I found this repugnant, the mpaa will spend tothe
> ends of the earth to destroy fair use, but (for
> whatever reason) what you do isnt important.
Oh, it isn't that it is not important to them, it's that you are not a member of the MPAA. Worse, you are in competition with MPAA members if you are producing content (as a non-member) and "wasting people's time with it when their time and money would be better spent on a MPAA member product".
Competition in distribution of their content (so called "piracy") and competition in content creation are their public enemies number one and two. Conveniently they can use copyright law to deal with competition in distribution of their content.
The other kind they have to deal with on the sly, because if they were ever too vocal about competing content creators, the government may see fit to bust their little anti-competitive cartel. That doesn't mean they (and their music industry counterparts) wouldn't love to rid the world of indie studios and musicians. At the moment, subtle little things like keeping CSS to themselves is all they can do.
Of course this is all evil, but what does one expect from a bunch of greedy sharks?
"They bind our hearts: 'Let's sell them again and again!'
Our plan understands the sea; we can wait for her coming."
From the song "Infanto no Musume" in the Japanese version of Mothra (1961).
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:4, Insightful)
If as a defense, we're naively turning the blind eye to this fact, then we will be like deer caught in headlights when they charge us with copy protection stuff...
Banning this software is just like stripping out the weeds in your lawn, and leaving the roots in the ground.
The battle really should be about first amendment rights, and basically it being unconstitutional to have a law like the Sony Bono act. Also there should be some sort of reaction to hollywood: decades of complacency have led to actors like Mel Gibson making 20 million off a single movie... That's just *not* right.
So long as we stay in this pasture of yellow grass, we aren't making any headway. It's no use acting coy and pretending that we're not doing something that isn't currently illegal... It is illegal. It's more important to tell the law makers that the law doesn't represent the best interest of the majority of the public.
Or something...
My point is we don't have an advantageous point here, and really, all we can do is fend off offensives by corporate giants, one after another.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:5, Insightful)
You know, you can get LOTR used, or steep discount new on DVD and loan it to friends.
Make your own damn Latte.
Sort of stuck with the gas station, but there is always www.gasbuddy.com for the lowest price.
Don't pay HBO, get the Soparanos used or steep discount on DVD as well.
I do this often. For me, it happened when the family got active. We decided to cut our entertainment budget in favor of school sports, outdoor activities and other things.
The first year is hard because you can't get anything new. After that it is a lot easier.
So we are a little behind. You know what? It really does not matter as much as people would think. The hard part is that making choices is harder than just going with the flow --until you actually start making them.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
Please link to your project page from your http://viewstl.sourceforge.net [sourceforge.net] page.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:4, Interesting)
What we have lost is a sense of honor and selflessness in corporate culture. It has become about money and nothing more, and that is why we have this situation we have today. A corporation founded only on making money is likely to be a bad one. A corporation which is started to work toward a dream or a goal (other than simply making money) is likely to be a good company that people like. Take Jobs and Wozniak for example, they had a dream of a computer in every home. But eventually a company ends up in the hands of the greedy, or those who start it end up that way. What we need is to build into our social norms a way to recognize this and replace such individuals with those who again are aiming as much at a goal or dream as they are at simply squeezing every last dime out of consumers. More progress will be made that way at less human cost.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
> Let's not kid ourselves... we all know 99% of the
> people will use this to copy DVDs. I will.
So copy DVDs. You can make as many copies of a DVD you produced yourself (home movies, iMovie film festival entry, 3D demo reel, etc.) as you want, as you own the copyright to it. You can make a backup copy of most things, that is supposed to be legal under fair use laws and court rulings.
The only illegal use is mass production of somebody else's DVDs (without permission) and distributing them yourself (usually with some money changing hands). But then the name of the program is "DVD X-Copy", not "Home DVD Piracy Ring Startup Pack".
We've already gotten one court case to show that if there are legitimate reasons for a product, and no wilful intent to make a tool for breaking the law, the product should be legal under the DMCA (IANAL). The more cases from different angles, the better chance we have to shoot the DMCA down in flames (in a court proceeding kind of way). The DMCA is a bad law that is discouraging foreign scientists from coming over to our conferences, makes permanent markers illegal, and allows for the harassment of coupon clubs. It is evil and must be stopped (in a court proceeding kind of way)!
"Really, gentlemen, if that's the case, let's see the power of attorney given to you by Mothra."
Torahata "Mothra vs. Godzilla"
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
You just don't get it, do you? The fact that a slashdot reader is so clueless, goes to show that public is a long way from being informed. Have you READ that article??
THE PRODUCT IS NOT FSCKING LEGAL BY JURY'S DECISION!. The product of ElcomSoft was CLEARLY illegal to the jury. The issue at hand was whether ElcomSoft intended to violate the law and they were not guilty BECAUSE they DID NOT INTEND to break the DMCA with that product.
Let me repeat it again: ElcomSoft was not guilty of breaking DMCA, BUT THEIR PRODUCT IS CLEARLY ILLEGAL
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
You were making good points up until now. Keep Mel Gibson and his salary out of this. His salary nothing to do with issue of fair use copying or even the copyright extension! I think most of people here are jealous or something...
This sounds like Robin Hood -- take from the rich, give to the poor. US is operating under capitalism and this is a logical and fair result.
Fair use loss is bad. Unchecked copyright extension is bad. Actors making a lot from the movies is ok, since this is a salary dictated by the market. That is how much he IS WORTH. Now, things like jacked up movie prices (9 bucks!) and high rental fees might be bad. but not the high salary that results for some good actors!
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
Well thats the point of the DVD-Copy software, isn't it?
I will presume that you mean to say 99% of the people will use ths to make illegal copies of DVDs, and I will address that.
you fall into a fallacy, you think just because you will comit copyright infringment, then "everybody" does it.
That is wrong, I will not use it in that manners, I can't think of any of my friends who would.
Personally I would use it to copy all my childrens DVD's so they can use them with out destroying them.
Thanks to this article, I may buy a copy of this sofware this weekend. I know I've spent more then that on replacements.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
I want my cut of the proffits! (Score:3, Insightful)
If the MPAA is allowed to collect these funds, then under this theory, anyone who ever records original content on a DVD for distribution, should be allowed membership to the MPAA. If enough of us join the MPAA, we could elect board members more in tune with reality. This would be far more difficult within the RIAA, since -while anyone can join the organization- only those who recieve payments (based on radio airplay of their music) can actually vote to elect board members. They have a vary incestuous system as compared to the MPAA, but with regard to the MPAA, everyone should produce a short film, perhaps a flash animation, and distribute it on DVD, selling it on their own website or whatever, then join the MPAA. If we generate enough new membership, we should be able to install board members as we se fit.
--CTH
Re:I want my cut of the proffits! (Score:2)
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:5, Insightful)
But do I have a right to make a backup copy of the DVD I just bought, with CSS intact? For when my two-year old tries to eat the original?
The MPAA's answer is "no." They know these things wear out, and lets face it it hurts their sales if I only have to buy it once.
Legally, I can photocopy every page of a book that I own. I might want to do that to put it into a binder and make notes in the margins for a class. The MPAA thinks you don't have the right to do that with their content.
They want to control what you do with the stuff after you've bought it. I can see why they would try to make that hard (witness - they have CSS in the first place) and something that the Average Joe isn't going to do.
The MPAA and RIAA are using the Bad Cop / Bad Cop routine on us, knowing that if enough of us knuckle under the rest of us will grudgingly give in to the concept that the fair use rights you have for digital portrayals of information are significantly restricted in ways that "analog" technologies tied to physical media are not.
Many people here on SlashDot take the stand that they support copyright laws and going after the "pirates". But I think that's anachronistic. Isn't one of technologies main functions to eliminiate scarcity? Whereas the paradigm of the guilds that run Hollywood is a selfish inclusiveness against ousiders.
My hope is that the huge media companies will be hurt by Napster and Tivo and that TV and the Big Six (or however many there are) media conglomerates will lose their stranglehold on culture.
If that happens, technology will have made the world a better place
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:3, Funny)
With dVDs and CDs being non-biodegradeable, I think we need to employ your children on a far larger scale.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:3, Interesting)
Technically, you can't. In order to decode CSS, a licensed player needs to read the appropriate disc key off the disc. The keys are stored separately from the main content of the disc. Either normal DVD-Rs do not have a writable disc key area or normal DVD recorders do not allow you to write to it; I forget which, but the result is that you cannot usefully copy a DVD at home without getting around CSS. Which, of course, is the point. DVD X-Copy apparently gets around this by loading licensed player software and using it as a CSS decoder.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:3, Interesting)
I believe you are talking about CANCOPY [library.ubc.ca]. This is normally applied to books borrowed for your educational use, and to photocopied handouts given to students.
Otherwise, my local library explained to me that with a map book I needed to copy, published by the government, but copyrighted, and no longer published, I would have to choose up to 25% of the book I wanted to copy.
Making a copy of a book you own for personal use would be difficult unless you own your own copier, since Kinko's, etc. will kick you out for trying to copy a whole book (I suggest you copy 100 pages at each shop -- I did this because I had a book stolen from me that was no longer available). I doubt it's illegal, though.
Someone needs to repeal copyright law on all government documents, though.
Re:i cant copy my own dvds? (Score:2)
Copy vs. backup. (Score:5, Funny)
IMO, they made a mistake with the name. DVD-X-Copy is, obviously, intended to make illegal copies. DVD-X-Backup, on the other hand, would obviously be intended to make legal, fair-use, backups.
Darwin works for companies & products as well
Re:Copy vs. backup. (Score:5, Funny)
IMO, they made a mistake with the name. DVD-X-Copy is, obviously, intended to make illegal copies. DVD-X-Backup, on the other hand, would obviously be intended to make legal, fair-use, backups.
If we took this line of reasoning seriously then every computer program that has data-copying functions needs to be changed. The C library function "strcpy" would need to be be switched to "strbkup", all our unix shell scripts would need to be scanned to replace "cp" with "bkup". No longer can our kernels use "copy-on-write" pages; new processes will do "backup-on-write".
"Copy" is a perfectly neutral term.We can't let the MPAA dictate our language.
~Phillip
Yep, and it works both ways (Score:2)
Likewise naming backup wouldn't provide a shred of protection. It's what it does, not its name, that governs legality. (Lawyers aren't quite that stupid.)
So I can call it a kid's novelty, but if it's actually a joint, I haven't changed anything.
Re:Copy vs. backup. (Score:2)
Stop twisting the language to suite your own -- and the MPAA/RIAA's -- ends.
Re:Copy vs. backup. (Score:2)
Right. "copy" describes the operation, "backup" describes the intent of an operation
But, you can't backup something without copying it, and you can't discuss or explain "backing up" without also talking about "copying". The MPAA would like to make "copy" a dirty word and equate it with criminal activity when we already have a perfectly good meaning for the word.
"Copy" is a perfectly neutral word, and copying is a perfectly neutral action. You can infringe on a copyright by redistributing a copy of a work without the copyright owners permission, but this possibility doesn't imply that all copying is copyright infringement.
~Phillip
Two problems in America (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Two problems in America (Score:2)
and who is this slashdot you speak of?
lord, not again (Score:5, Insightful)
parasites
Re:lord, not again (Score:2)
Could This Be Good In A Way? (Score:2, Insightful)
Correct! (Score:2)
I think it will shortly get to the stage where music and video producers accept that unauthorised digital distribution / copying of their material CANNOT be stopped.
The industry could then move to an "Honour System" of payment, whereby a viewer could make payment for digital content _however_ they received it.
Multimedia file formats should contain meta-data information about an Internet location from where payment for the material can be made should one so wish to do so.
Anything like this for Linux? (Score:2)
Re:Anything like this for Linux? (Score:2, Informative)
The Article says 321 Studios... (Score:5, Funny)
*rimshot*
Bugger! (Score:2)
Bugger... coffee sprayed all over my monitor when I read that.
I haven't laughed as hard for ages. Thanks mate -- that was absolutely brilliant!
I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:5, Interesting)
Come on... who would buy this software just so they can make personal use backups ?
I would. A 1337 wizard might be able to coax software to make a copy of a DVD, with much agony, but I can't.
I do recall these exact same arguments being made against floppy disk copying. Then, God No! -- VHS tape copying. Then the horror of horrors, CD copying.
And you know what? Hollywood makes more bucks on VHS and DVDs than they do on ticket sales. Software companies are not out of business.Hollywood is not out of business. Microsoft's stuff was infinitely copyable, for instance, yet they stashed 40 billion in the piggy bank.
DVD copying will do nothing to "intellectual property owners". This is a red herring, and an excuse to steal legally ALL the money from all sources possible. This is about greed and marketing a "crime wave" that nobody seemed to notice until the RIAA and MPAA and the SPA bought newpeople and legislators to make one.
Yeah, I want to copy a DVD. Someday, I may even copy a rental DVD, too, But I have to rent it first, and I wouldn't have bought it anyway. There will be no "theft" involved. I won't break into their office and steal their movies. I'd destroy the copy, or just toss it after watching, but after watching these pirates try to steal 123's profits, I think I'll hang onto any copies I make. If the MPAA acts like thieving bastards, then I'll be damned if I'll contribute to their profits in the DVD arena. Being a bastard can cost you profit$, too.
And doesn't Hollwood get an extorted cut of all DVD media sold anyway? They get paid for the blanks, then sue for the use of the blanks... are we so stupid we swallow their utterly dishonest presentation of "theft"? I guess so.
why you should care about this $99 hack. (Score:5, Insightful)
You should read the article and expand your brain a little. First, the software does a little more than move bits. According to CNN, it intercepts the decoded stream from the DVD player and saves unecrypted files that can be played anywhere. Second, the software comes bundled with some DVD burners so you don't have to spend $100. Third, the company website notes that copies are very nice to have for travel and other abuse. Don't you already do this with your music CDs? It kinda sucks to scrach an original, but who cares about ruining a copy?
Is this a copyright violation? No way. It's clearly intended for personal, non comercial use and it simply uses your own hardware to acomplish it's task. Content "piracy" is the kind of thing found on the streets of Shanghi, wholesale publishing of exact copies for sale. I'm amazed that they are having to spend all sorts of money in court and hope the best for them. Does this violate the DMCA? We shall see.
If they lose, you can forget your ablity to make any kind of DVD copy ever. That's why it's important.
Re:why you should care about this $99 hack. (Score:2)
Re:why you should care about this $99 hack. (Score:2)
Like there going to have anything you want to own! In the future, this may be true, or they might just not rent DVDs, which cost less than a buck to make. In the present, I hardly feel the need to copy anything I rent from them. Currently, that's what the VCR is for but I never use it. Something I feel compelled to own, however, is different story. I want a copy of that the kids in the back seat can ruin on that long drive. It's a principle thing today, mostly. Tomorrow, you will feel it as viewers become more compact and prevalent.
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:3, Informative)
Anyway there's no point in buying any commercial software for this sort of thing, all you have to do is wait a while.
For those who have children and are wanting to copy DVDs to give to the kids, allow me to suggest using DVD2SVCD (at least on windows) to make SVCDs for them. You do have to pay for an mpeg2 encoder but it's relatively one-click (you do have to fiddle with bitrate values to make the best use of the CD capacity but this is not a necessary step) and it lets you use cheap-as-heck CDR media, or for the kids who are slightly more with it about respecting media, CDRW.
DVD2SVCD (my personal choice of software for this purpose) can be found at http://www.doom9.net [doom9.net].
it's cheaper than that, and harder, too (Score:3, Interesting)
As for "just copying bits", DVD's use messy storage format and drive interface. See this link [uni-goettingen.de] for more information.
And, as usual, some little utility like that does require you to shell out $50-$100 on Windows.
$5? Try under a buck!!! (Score:2)
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
I suppose I would if I used Windows. I've had two DVDs crap out on me so far. They were both under VERY light use and handled excptionally well. One of which was 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' BTW.
I haven't been in the DVD game that long. I don't even want to think of how many I may have had go bad when my DVD collection is as old as my VHS collection currently is.
Now if DVD studios are going to exchange defective ones for new DVDs anytime one breaks within the next 25 years (and they will be in business that long) I wouldn't have to copy my DVDs.
$5 a piece is better than $15+ for a new DVD, if I could even still buy them years later (and the price of blank DVDs continues to fall).
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
I doubt you'll have any better luck with WB. (Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a Columbia/Tristar DVD. not WB).
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
You don't have kids, do you?
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
You would be surprised at how little damage can destroy a DVD. They are a *lot* more sensitive to scratches then CDs. The cost of the media to back them up is far less then the cost of a new DVD.
Blank DVD-R discs are NOT $5 each (Score:2)
2X DVD-R in quantity 100 are $1 each
So if you don't mind 1 hour to burn a single DVD-R, 58 cents per disc (many movies require to two DVD-R discs to backup).
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
http://www.yesbuy.net/dv10dvdcas10.html
Re:I want to be able to backup my DVD's... (Score:2)
If you'd spend 30 seconds at Froogle [froogle.com] you'd have your answers:
From the search:
BMI 100-Pack Bulk DVD-R 1x Speed
$89.99 - TigerDirect.com - Blank DVDs
masterpieces won't be altered or erased. DVD-R, a write-once
Sponsored Links
Wholesale Direct DVD-R
We test before we sell, guaranteed.
DVD-R from $0.69, +R $2.29 in stock
Americal.com
ProGrade DVD-R $0.58 Only
Ritek DVD-R $0.85; DVD-RW $0.89
Gold DVD+R $1.75; DVD-R 2X $1.29
www.meritline.com
DVD R $0.85 each
Labels & Jewel case
DVD duplication and replication
www.800dvdr.com
DVD-RW $1.38 / -R $0.88
High Quality Low Price Guaranteed
DVD+R $2.92 CD-R $0.12 and more
www.cdrdvdrmedia.com
Dual Layer DVDs (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Dual Layer DVDs (Score:3, Informative)
anyone know if its possible to buy blank dual layer dvds and a combatible burner?
No, it is not possible and it will not be possible. Dual layer discs are pressed as 2 discs and glued together.
Re:Dual Layer DVDs (Score:2)
There's no way a burner could "burn" the second layer of a disk without disturbing the top layer.
They are profiting off of others free programs! (Score:5, Interesting)
The stolen software is as follows:
Smart Ripper
DVDx
VCD Easy/CD-Maker
PowerCDR
Re:They are profiting off of others free programs! (Score:5, Insightful)
Curious (Score:5, Insightful)
In the bad old days, merely playing any recorded material degraded the quality of it. A record, tape or VHS tape would eventually wear out. Thus making "copies" from a master was a necessity if you wanted to listen/view it over a long period of time. With todays digital media that is no longer the case, or much less so. Look for the "MPAA" supporters to try and use this fact to ban ALL fair use. Think revisionist history here (an mpaa lawyers will be!), fair use was needed because of the failure of that times recording technology. It (fair use) has no other reason to be in existance they will argue. It's outmoded and needs to be gotten rid of they will say. Reverse engineering, fair use, personal use will all be attacked (and are being attacked).
I find it ironic that a record company that can't even pay it's own employees/sub contractor (the artists) correctly is worried about a piece of DVD copying software. I guess if your accounting is THAT BAD then any percieved potential loss must be made up for. Thus the industry that can't even keep track of it's own sales accurately swings into action with a cadre of lawyers. Eventually musicians will seel directly to the people, and they will cut out the middle man. Eventually people will listen to music because they want to, not because they are told to. I can't wait for that day.
Re:Curious (Score:2, Insightful)
I used to think this until I had movies and games that failed to play because of a single minor scratch. A scratch that came from removing it from the case of all things.
Of course, they LIKE this. They LOVE it even. They rub their hands together at the mere thought of doctoring the laws so that we're criminals unless we pay them a week's wages everytime we even REMEMBER a line from a movie or a song.
The original DivX format. The new self-destructive disks. DRM. Thought pollution. They really will never stop until they've won, until we stop buying their crap, or until we raid their business offices and shoot every single fucking executive coming up with this shit.
One word: plastic polish (Score:2)
I wish whoever broadcasts Enterprise here would get some. Theie (evidently digital) broadcasts go blocky all the time, like 4-5 times per episode. I can practically see the tech's fingerprints.
Re:Curious (Score:2)
Re:Curious (Score:2)
Somehow, DVDs aren't so forgiving yet. In this case, scratches hurt more but fingerprints and other oils really throw players for a loop. I often use a clean-wipe on discs I am renting before I even try to play them.
As for the DVD-X-Copy or whatever, I was surprised they even managed to sell some copies due to cartel interference. All I knew was that I wasn't going to buy one because of the obnoxious banner ads they had.
FINALLY - FAIR USE WILL BE TESTED! (Score:5, Interesting)
As we've all read a thousand times, this is no different than the movie studio's rabid reaction to the introduction of VCR's - a product that can duplicate video media and *might* be used for piracy.
This is the fight we've been waiting for: Fair Use vs. the DMCA. Only one will be left standing.
(So I'm being a little dramatic, sue me, I realize that the DMCA has a crapload of other stuff that will remain even if parts of it are struck down.)
Too late (Score:2)
So I assume a judge would say, yeah, the DMCA is badly written (there's a first) but it is clear what it proscribes and they'll just have to rewrite it rather than have me guess at the correct wording.
YMMV.
What are the grounds for suing...?? (Score:4, Insightful)
Since when does DMCA make it illegal to make copies in general? I believe it only applies to breaking copyright protection...? I am hoping this will be tossed quickly or am I missing something?
Re:What are the grounds for suing...?? (Score:2, Insightful)
But do you sue the maker of the video camera?
Correct me if I am wrong, BUT (Score:2)
I need to know since I'm going to get a 8x DVD burner, but call it 50,000 .00016x burners and open up a Third World Everquest Pirate Cafe!
Moderators: I'm just kidding about the first part. Thanks.
Not as bad as you think... (Score:5, Funny)
Hey! That was the other **AA! (Score:2)
Can the MPAA get their money back? (Score:2, Funny)
--
"say no to feeping creaturism"
Re:Can the MPAA get their money back? (Score:2)
This is great advertising (Score:3, Funny)
I told them there was no such software.
Now I know differently. Thanks, MPAA, I guess you do add value, after all!
why piracy must be eliminated (Score:2, Insightful)
You know what happens in communist countries? The government controls everything you do. If you try and start your own business and invent new products, the government knocks down your door and takes your computers. If you make any profits, you have to hand them over to a third party, and they label you an enemy of the state.
In communist countries, powerful entities take money from the working class and use it to line their pockets and buy influence. The government is so interwoven with corruption, almost every law passed exists simply to keep to the bureaucratic machinery running, rather than encouraging efficient innovation (which can be dangerously disruptive).
You wouldn't want to live in country like that, would you??
Keep it up.. (Score:3, Interesting)
EUCD in the news (Score:2, Informative)
It was described as a law that makes it illegal to make mp3s of your own CDs. Since it is an EU directive, I doubt any of the member countries have much choice but to add some law of this kind.
Review of DVDXCopy (Score:4, Informative)
its an interesting read. they are actually enforcing fair use to some extent. it doesnt allow copying a copy (as long as its attempted with DVDXCopy), and inserts disclaimer warning screens at the start of each backup. sure teh die-hard hacker is going to copy it by a different means anyhow, but this program is tailored to joe-user that just wants a backup of his dvd and could care less about a warning screen at the start of his movie. it seems they made the program as restrictive as possible, covering the necessary fair use bases without overly-annoying the end user in the process.
This may even make the MPAA look bad should 321s lawyers bring up these facts in court.
Re:Review of DVDXCopy (Score:2)
"I like pizza!"
Related news: ReplayTV users & the EFF (Score:2)
Look out VCDHelp.com! (Score:4, Informative)
There are even some bloody excellent websites like VCDHelp.com [vcdhelp.com] and Doom9.net [doom9.net] which explain the whole process in simple to follow steps and provide discussion forms for those who have questions or problems.
What's the MPAA going to do now? Force these sites to charge a subscription and demand that all the revenues be handed over to them?
Hey, maybe the MPAA *have* found a new business model -- let people help others make backup copies of your wares and then sue them for huge sums.
Probably sounds pretty damned good from a movie exec's perspective -- let others do all the work then just raid their wallets at your leisure.
define profit. (Score:3, Insightful)
fine, but only if the definition of profit is the one the movie studios use.
On DVD Renting (Score:4, Interesting)
Anyway, the idea comes from that ROM-trading system mentioned a month or two ago. The idea behind that was: people have actual media, and in order to trade it, they send people the files, during which time their media can't be used- just like trading with someone who lives by you, only without the lives by you part.
So I figure if what I own when buying a DVD isnt media, but a license, why not rent out that license instead?
So here's the proposal: Buy a DVD, put it on a shelf, keep track of how long you spend Not watching the movie.
Then rent out the license for the time you arent using it.
If a DVD is a license, not media, you don't have to worry about where the physical media is in order to use the license. If I buy a DVD, go on a trip out of state, and download a rip of the DVD to watch while I'm gone, it's just as legal as making a copy of a movie on VHS and taking that with you on a trip- everything's fine as long as no one is watching that other copy at the same time. Rights are intangable, so your Rights stay with you wherever you go. Rights also dont need to stay in touch with the rest of the world's time. If I'm licensed to see 30 minutes of a slug beating a mormon to death with a petrified woodpecker, I can watch 10 minutes now, 10 minutes later, and save that extra 10 minutes for a friend of mine whom I wish to torment.
DVD's, though, have no time limit. You could put one in your drive now and keep the thing spinning until the drive wears out or the disc disintegrates beyond readability. Fortunatly though, if either of those happen, you're still allowed to watch the movie: a DVD is a license, not a media.
So, there's no time limit, Rights stay with you wherever you go, and rights dont have to follow time in a straight line.
Plenty of people have DVDs which have been sitting on their shelves unwatched for months. That could have been 720 showings of the movie, all of which remain unseen. What happens to those showings? Well, you're licensed to have viewed them whether you did or not, why not sell them?
License Rental can enable thousands of otherwise ilegal viewings to become legit, all at an affordable price. And there's really no drawbacks.
Before commenting on anything I just said, please note that I am aware that I am not familiar with the subject matter I am typing about. I really couldnt give a shit whether anything I said was true or not. The post was meant only to get people thinking. Whether those thoughts are intelligent or not is up to the person doing the thinking. I dont care if they are, the real point is for someone to look at this and go "That's completely wrong.
You may have noticed the actual topic of this post ended abruptly. I wish to assure you that this was because I stopped typing on the subject.
Re:On DVD Renting (Score:3, Insightful)
if that is true... why do all the AD's on tv say "Own it Today"?
Sounds like false advertising to me... Who want's to sue?
Re:Are you kidding me? (Score:5, Insightful)
Ehm, you're missing the point. Anyone with slashdot (ting) skills can copy the software if they are willing to go through some hassle. But slashdot readers are a tech-minority everywhere but here on slashdot. All these things are relevant because this software allows the "average user" to legally (for $50) make a DVD copy. Hopefully 321 Stidos will win.
Re:Are you kidding me? (Score:2)
And how do you make that minority more tech savvy? (Score:2)
The MPAA doesn't get what we all know and say over and over again. Casual copying is for the most part legal. Illegal casual copying for the most part *increases* sales. If you can output it you can copy it. And here's the biggy:
People want to be able to copy.
They will stick to a format that allows it, or they will learn how to do it in the new format.
Hey MPAA guys, why don't you just find a business plan that coordinates with reality? Then we can all go back to work, ok? And remember, the customer is always right, because the customer controls the flow of money from *their* pocket to *yours.*
KFG
Re:And how do you make that minority more tech sav (Score:2)
Actually, it takes *very* slightly more work than "dd". For Windows users, either DVD Dec or SmartRipper, in "file" mode, will suffice.
Re:And how do you make that minority more tech sav (Score:2)
I think the reality is different. The "average user" will NOT learn anything. They only know things that have been around for over 5 years and are used by everybody as to force them to use it as well. This is does not even imply that I feel superior to the "average user". In fact I tried to rip a DVD and gave up after an some effort. Sure I bet I could do it, but I haven't so far...
People want to be able to copy but they will NOT learn new things to do it... Quite a few people still don't know how to operate a VCR or a microwave, damn it...
It stands for disk duplicator (Score:2, Interesting)
This isn't a cracking tool. *It leaves the CSS intact.* It's a *duplication* tool. The copy cannot be played on any device that could not play the source disk. It complies in every respect with the standard. Thus it's a perfectly valid copy tool that does not even violate the DMCA, since no attempt has even been made to circuvent the copy protection.
The very idea that someone might simply copy the copy protection appears to have been an idea totally foreign to the mindset of the media types who believe that anyone who copies anything for any reason is a "pirate" raping and pillage them and their families.
All *I* want is a backup disk as legally provided for in fair use law. An *exact* duplicate gives this backup disk while violating *no* law. As I said, not even the DMCA.
KFG
KFG
Re:Are you kidding me? (Score:2)
How difficult is it to copy a video-tape? Pretty easy... casual I would say. Do you still use blockbuster? Do you still even... gasp... BUY video-tapes? sure. so the argument is not that simple. (plus a blank DVD costs like a couple of bucks or so, I think)
Not that piracy is the only use for this software. Lots of people like to backup what they buy (yea right)
I have read a lot of opinions to the contrary... DVDs are *notoriously* fragile. as in they can die from a scratch.
Not to mention that I would appreciate being able to make a CD-R copy to 1) store the file on my hard drive (easier access) 2) use the CD-R to take my movie over to my dad's house where he only has a CD drive on his computer.
Re:This sucks (Score:2)
Re:23 - (4 * 5) (Score:2)