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Are DVDs Software Or Films?

Posted by timothy on from the dvds-are-plastic-and-metal-discs dept.

NewsWatcher writes: "In Australia a court case with international ramifications will decide if DVDs are software or films. If they are designated as software, rental prices will go through the roof, if they are films their distribution cannot be limited under copyright laws. This article explains the ins and outs ." Unrelated incident -- FatRatBastard writes: "C|Net News is reporting that the new Warner Bros Powerpuff Girls DVD is infected with the FunLove virus. Note this only effects those who install the supplemental Windows software that comes on the DVD. The article claims that "The virus only affects PCs that load the disc, not DVD players" so I'm not sure if the DVD auto installs software if loaded on a Win PC, or if infection only happens if the user chooses to install the supplemental software."

4 of 387 comments (clear)

  1. Re:funlove by bluGill · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What you accidemics fail to recall is that english is driven by usage, NOT by accidemic wishes. The french (and spanish to some extent) are different, but in english speaking worlds you can use the language any way you want to.

    Now if you can't get your point across because the words are not recignised that is your problem. You will look more intelligent if you use the more standard language. Accidemics can help with getting your point across better, so long as you remember they love big words (linguistic, scene, regional variant, linguists, lexicographers, colloquial, and non-standard) that don't help the clear communication cause. They do make you appear more intelligent though.

  2. It's Data by ackthpt · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    he media that something resides on does not change the identity of what it is. Therefore a DVD-based movie is still a movie.

    First off I consider analog or digital recordings, regardless of physical media, to be data. If, to manipulate that data, there resides on same media a mechanism, that should be considered software. Encrypted, compressed, whatever, it's data on your CD/DVD disk and to convert it to music requires logic circuitry and a D/A converter.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. Re:Nit: affect/effect by SJS · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It's practically a Usenet tradition.

    http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~stremler/sigs/sigs.ht ml #618

    --
    Pick One: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~stremler/sigs/sigs.html (Note - disable Javascript first!)
  4. Is an (AOL) CD rubish or an ornament? by M_T_Toaster · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    If you are stuck wondering what to do with AOL/ Netscape/ Compuserve CD's you need look no further.

    http://www.nomoreaolcds.com

    Yes I know this is off-topic but it is in a good cause.