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ReplayTV Users Sue Hollywood

Posted by michael on from the return-of-the-jedis dept.

Seth Schoen writes "A group of ReplayTV 4000 users, led by Craigslist creator Craig Newmark, today sued a group of entertainment companies to establish that plaintiffs' use of the ReplayTV (including skipping commercials) is not illegal. The defendants are the same entertainment companies which have sued ReplayTV. Here the end users of the product are getting involved to defend the legitimacy of their activity in the face of allegations that skipping commercials is "theft". The plaintiffs are represented by Ira Rothken and EFF. The case is Newmark v. Turner, in the Central District of California (at Los Angeles). (Some people are calling it Craig v. Hollywood.)"

4 of 543 comments (clear)

  1. Better for me... by ArsonSmith · · Score: 5, Interesting

    being a Tivo user and not using the 30 second skip, but using the fast forward I will stop and watch commercials that I am interested in. I will skip the ones that I am not interested in or that completely annoy me.

    Maybe this will be a much better way to target advertising and maybe get some of the really crappy commercials of the TV.

    If a commercial is something I want see I will watch it. With my Tivo I don't have to have things basted at me repetitively. I will see a commercial once or twice as I feel is needed. If it is something I want I will look into it more. Much better for the advertiser because otherwise I would just get annoyed with the constant bombardment of advertising until I don't want anything to do with there products or services.

    --
    Paying taxes to buy civilization is like paying a hooker to buy love.
  2. TiVO by aluminumcube · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was just wondering, but how is it that TiVO seems not to acquire the wrath of the MPAA and television studios?
    They have a fast forward feature, but unlike ReplayTV, they don't have an instant 30 second skip button. Does that make all the difference?

  3. Re:What about snacks and VCRs? by BitHive · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The parent post gets at one of my only complaints about DVDs. Most I've seen do not let you skip the intro clips and FBI warnings. One even had previews I couldn't skip! If I paid for a DVD, I expect to be able to skip tracks. There's no good reason to lock out my remote control--ever.

  4. Re:Why it's not theft.. by kindbud · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When an advertiser buys time on a network program, they're trying to "buy eyeballs". The networks charge a rate based on the ratings, which is a statistic of approximately how many people are watching.

    Perhaps they are really afraid that advertisers will discover that the networks have been selling them something that they don't actually own and therefore cannot legally sell.

    --
    Edith Keeler Must Die