Are DVDs Software Or Films?

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."

Comments

Re:Both

[BitwizeGHC]

Most DVD's have software in them to drive the DVD player/computer display menus, etc. So even a film only DVD with no DVD addons but "special features" has a software component.

Tough call.

Films definently.

[HarrisonSilp]

Jesus, I'm not installing my DVD am I? I'm watching it, like a VHS cassette or anything else, the only difference in this case is that VHS isn't used (to my limited knowledge of these things) as a media for storing binary data while a DVD is.

It seems from the article that the case Warner Home Video is presenting is that a DVD is computer software with a movie hidden somwhere inside, which is totally bogus.

When I go out to purchase a DVD, I'm thinking, "Wow, Fight Club is going to look awesome on my friends big screen;" not, "Wow, I can't wait to go home and enjoy my Fight Club-related software and included movie!" The mere fact that they market these as things that you *WATCH* with extra features should totally nullify their whole argument. I might be able to understand it if they called it "Interactive software, *now with a free movie!*," but they don't, because nobody wants that crap, they want a movie, if they didn't they wouldn't have purchased it. Get off your high-horse Warner and stop gouging rental outlets.

Re:Is a CD music or software?

[MrResistor]

First, I don't know where you've been buying your CD-Rs, but you are getting ripped off. It's been years since I've paid more than $.30 each.

Second, the idea that you have to buy special "Music" CD-Rs is total BS. Consumer electronics have problems with open CD-RWs (my burner is write only, so I'm not familiar with the -RW particulars) and multisession CD-Rs. I've been copying, mixing, etc to regular old cheap CD-Rs for years now and I've never had a problem playing them. I don't use multi-session and I always close the disc. Of course, I do all this on a PC, so I don't know how things work with those consumer CD copiers.

Third, I was going to post about the "pc-friendliness" of DVDs as well. Gladiator came with software on it that it urgently told me I absolutely had to install or I wouldn't be able to watch the movie. Against my better judgement I installed it. It was the crappiest DVD playing software I have ever tried. Playback was choppy and full of artifacts, which on my system (Athlon 750,384M RAM, GeForce2 GTS, SB Live! Platinum) is totally unacceptable. In fact, I got better playback on my old K6-2 with a TNT1.

Sorry if this sounds sort of flame-ish. I'm out of coffee...