Slashdot Mirror


DivX;) Goes Legit

ZooB writes: "There is an article running on CNET right now about DivX and how,(and I'm sure this comes as no surprise to anyone reading this here), such a technology used so frequently for piracy can be used in a legitimate manner. The article is interesting enough, but take careful note of the comment by an MPAA representative. "We are aware of DivX and similar technologies, but it's not the technology that's the issue, it's how it is applied," said a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America, who declined to comment specifically on DivXNetworks. "Our concern is with technology that is marketed, promoted and used as a tool for piracy." His first sentence seems to fly in the face of the DMCA as the law is currently written and then, perhaps realizing what he has just said, the spokesman back pedals and contradicts his previous statement! It is nice to know that someone besides a politician can speak out of both sides of their mouth."

2 of 257 comments (clear)

  1. Re:DivX is not legit by technos · · Score: 5, Informative

    It uses patented technology
    Prove it. It may be based loosly on the MPEG-4 standard, but it is decidedly not MPEG-4.

    which needs per-copy license fees which haven't been paid by anyone
    Hunh? No patent, no fees. If they were walking on someone else, you better bet they'd have been sued by now.

    got with replacing all of Microsoft
    They never had Microsoft's code. It was a binary hack that killed some quality issues. Also, that was another version.

    and MoMuSys's code
    Which was a sample implementation, free for all to look at and play with. Just like the sample code that started LAME.

    Methinks you should start paying attention, mukund.

    --
    .sig: Now legally binding!
  2. Re:Anti SSSCA Petition by bwt · · Score: 5, Informative

    Is this real? Two senators introduce something, is that really sufficient to call it a threat?

    Yes it is a nuclear bomb that has already been launched!! Do you think it is an accident that two Senators introduced this? One of them is the chairman of the commerce committee, for Christ's sake. Good God, man, are you really in denial this bad? Wake UP!!!

    Right now the score is 0-2 in the Senate. Game is 51 (including the VP).

    We have to act NOW to defeat this piece of fascism.

    You need to write and call your representative and senators NOW. If you haven't done this in the next 48 hours, then you are a chump who deserves to have your computer given to the MPAA. The big media are preparing a heavy lobbying campaign to get this passed.

    Talking points:
    1) The bill is fascist. Keep the government's hands off my computer.
    2) A mandatory security standard will direct all security applications to a single point of failure
    3) Consumers hate "Digital Rights Management" and won't buy it. PC sales will stagnate even more.
    4) Trusted client is provably crackable. If you try to shove this down consumer's throats, I guaranty it will be cracked quickly.
    5) The "Copyright Industry" is harming America, because they are clinging to business models that require a police state to work.
    6) Copyright is teetering dangerously close to illigitimacy because the government isn't listening to the people.
    7) Reject Copyright Fascism.