TV Networks Sue ReplayTV

Robert Wilde writes: "Three major television networks have sued Sonicblue over the ReplayTV 4000 and asked the court to grant an injunction to prevent the sale of the device." Here's another blurb about the lawsuit. All you readers that predicted that Replay would get sued over this device, give yourselves a pat on the back.

Comments

Re:That first link you have to sign up/register

[brunes69]

No-reg Link to article:

http://archive.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Ne tworks-ReplayTV.html

Re:This is total BS

[Tyger]

That part of the lawsuit has nothing to do with the 30 second skip button. The new ReplayTV 4000 box actually has an option to completely skip commercials, automatically. Similar to those VCRs with commercial auto-skip, except you just don't see the commercial. One minute, it is a break, and the next moment, the break is over. If you are not paying attention, you may not even realize the commercial was there. You don't even get the fleeting glimpse of the product like you do with fast-forward or a skip button. THAT is what they are worried about.

But that is also not the strongest part of this, IMO. I suspect the bigger part will be the ability to share recorded shows.

Article also at news.com

[A Commentor]

For those without nytimes account: news.com

Re:How is this different?

[fossa]

Can you back this up please (though I can't back up any of my claims I do know that I watch plenty of ads, and I am of the opinion that I watch less TV than most)? I am seriously curious. I for one believe that TV ads are extremely effective. Why do companies spend so much on advertising? Why are all the stops pulled for the Super Bowl ads? Do you think companies haven't done research on the effectivines of TV advertising?

Yeah, you might go to the bathroom or flip around during commercials, but you'll probably catch at least the first or last commercial in the set. While flipping around you're bound to come across some commercials.

I know as a child I saw certain toys on TV and then wanted them dearly. I know as an adult I am subtly influenced to believe that products advertised on TV are somehow higher quality than generic products.

I don't think anyone's arguing about the effectiveness of ads that are watched though, only if they are watched at all. I believe plenty of ads are watched. One doesn't have to devote full attention to an ad to get its message anyway, the purpose of many ads being repetition for product recognition.

Re:How is this different?

[ncc74656]

It's still just a matter of convenience/ efficiency. If they were serious, and were on solid legal ground, they should outlaw VCRs. Or at least, make them so that you can't hook up machines to make duplicate tapes.

...not to mention the dual-deck VCRs that have been produced over the years. (Hell, there's even a unit now from Go Video that combines a DVD player and a VCR. It won't dub DVDs to tape, though, so what's the point? I'll stick with my Apex AD600A with region-free/Macrovision-free ROM, thankyouverymuch...and if I didn't have that, I still have a Macrovision scrubber floating around somewhere...arrrrr, me mateys...)