Posted by
timothy
on from the don't-miss-an-episode-of-%83hd1nzz dept.
karrde writes "CNet (and others) is reporting that: 'Microsoft has bowed to consumer pressure and pulled back from a controversial plan that would have encrypted TV shows recorded on forthcoming digital media PCs.' One could hope that this will be the first many decisions in this direction."
MS bow to consumer pressure?
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 1, Interesting
They'll just take a different route towards keeping people away from the data. And be sneaky about it.
Follow through...
by
Anonymous Coward
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· Score: 4, Interesting
Maybe they will bow to even more consumer pressure and allow filtering of commercials.
But I suppose it would be too much to hope for...
But DVI will do this
by
Doppler00
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· Score: 5, Interesting
I recently read an article explaining how the DVI interface works and how they plan on implementing an encryption system in future versions. Essentially, the HDTV will have an encryption key key and the output device will have a key. This should (in theory) completly prevent someone from copying the digital signal with another device. What does this mean for people who currently own HDTV's? They may not be compatible with new signals and thus you will be required to buy a new one or have to use a lower quality analog signal. They media and electronics industries don't need Microsoft to restrict fair use rights.
I'm not saying this is a good thing, it's just where the industry is headed.
Cracks are forming in DRM finally
by
Arcturax
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
It is good to see "digital rights massacre" plans starting to fall apart. First several high profile bills aimed to restore fair use and reign in the DMCA and now this.
I think that those with power in the industry are finally starting to see that the natives are indeed getting restless over this and realizing that they are headed for some extremely major consumer backlash if they press ahead with current DRM proposals.
Of course, it is not time to party just yet as the MPAA and RIAA have yet to acknowledge the clue stick which everyone and their brother has been whacking them with for the past 4 years, but if Microsoft and some members of Congress are starting to see the light, then anything is possible.
Once campaign finance reform kicks in and if voters give the Senetors and Reps from Disney/MPAA/RIAA the smackdown at the polls they so richly deserve, we might see the pendulum swing back our way again in the next 3-5 years.
--
--Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop. - Dr. Walter Gibbs
Re:Cracks are forming in DRM finally
by
Sauron23
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
I think that those with power in the industry are finally starting to see that the natives are indeed getting restless over this and realizing that they are headed for some extremely major consumer backlash if they press ahead with current DRM proposals.
Just the thin edge of the wedge. Wait until Joe and Jane put down a few thousand on the "media convergence device" of the future. Just watch what happens the first time they can't fast foreword through the commercial or save it onto another device, like their computer. or send it to aunt Rose. It'll be like the manufacturer stole their firstborn and sold it to the devil.
Joe will sit their thinking how his Tivo never had this problem. Wondering why this new "device" even has a fast foreword button on the remote. Then he's going to put it back in the box and demand his money back. I'll be the guy outside walmart selling front row tickets to the refund line seating. It's gonna be great fun to watch.
People went balistic when Intel tried to fingerprint their CPU. Imagine when they find out some corporate slime is profiling their viewing habits via some robust deal between the hardware manufacturer and the "media" provider. "now why do I need to have my TV hooked up to the phone?", says Joe. "Oh, thats so you can download the show listings" says the salesman. Coughing into his hand..."You'll probably want to order the deluxe package from your cable provider. Tell them you want the interactive service." chirps the friendly salesman. "Just remember you have to give them the model number of the unit and this activation number when you order."
Or something similar. We're hearing how digital TV is so great for the content creators. How secure and easy to use. They'll talk about how great the picture is. Nobody listening will care. Nobody will care how secure that is until aunt Rose can't get the news clip of Joe Jr. playing baseball Joe Sr. recorded for her. Recorded and then couldn't send to poor aunt Rose. Who will now never be able to see Joe Jr. play baseball from her wheelchair at the retirement home.
Just one possible scenario. One I like to use when describing DRM. Poor aunt rose all alone, and all the promises made of how great the future would be with these enabling technologies at our finger tips. lies, damned lies if it's allowed to happen.
do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
They'll wait for SP2
by
burgburgburg
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· Score: 2, Interesting
That way, more of them will have been sold.
Not 100% correct
by
BagOBones
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· Score: 5, Interesting
According to http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10 738,2884933,00.html MS will still lock the content if the recorder picksup the special copyprotection marker in the broadcast... So as soon as the content providers turn this on have fun sitting infrunt of your multimeda PC watching your shows.
-- EA David Gardner -"... but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun."
The follow-up question: Will Palladium fail?
by
Jugalator
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· Score: 5, Interesting
An interesting newsgroup thread over at Google News.
It's a question I've been asking myself. I mean, how will Microsoft succeed with their plans? Which manufacturer wish to be the first to have a huge disadvantage by supplying the initial Palladium-supporting hardware? How can we be sure that the manufacturers are simply going to release hardware supporting Palladium? Won't it just work like in the past instead, where mp3 players made it easier for piracy and DVD players often can be made region free, by a simple flip of a jumper? Where CD-burners often support low-level duplication and overburning they don't *need* to support, but manufacturers *know* that they're more likely to sell if their drive support CloneCD and similar programs that's used in 9 cases out of 10 for piracy. They never admit it, but everyone knows it.
How will Palladium suddenly change this philosophy of the manufacters? Won't they be tempted to go the "dirty" path (of course not officially; they'll just "not include Palladium support") by looking into the enormous public interest that will arise in hardware not supporting hardware copy protections?
-- Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
Re:You know how this is going to work...
by
wraithgar
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· Score: 2, Interesting
>Heck, BugBear is such a big deal only because nobody bothered to apply a security patch that was issued 18 months ago [microsoft.com]!
...Which only fuels microsoft's argument towards automagic, behind-your-back updates to your computer. "We need to do it for the general stability of the internet (and will make it DRM compliant while we're in there)"
Re:This can't be good.
by
Kazymyr
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· Score: 1, Interesting
It does make me curious: which distros of Linux provide similar PVR support. Mmmm?
"Microsoft has bowed to consumer pressure and pulled back from a controversial plan that would have encrypted TV shows recorded on forthcoming digital media PCs."
Relax RIAA. They can always add it back in with the inevitable security patch.
--
The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!
Now all we need is for MS to back off and rewrite their EULAs so they don't have the power to just mosey in, make changes to your system, and never tell you a thing.
They rewrote the WMP 6.4 and 7.1 security update EULA to remove the onerous "root access" provision.
Digital Rights Management. Content providers are using the digital rights management technology contained in the applicable OS Product ("DRM") to protect the integrity of their content ("Secure Content") so that their intellectual property, including copyright, in such content is not misappropriated. Portions of the applicable OS Product and third party applications such as media players use DRM to play Secure Content ("DRM Software"). If the DRM Software's security has been compromised, owners of Secure Content ("Secure Content Owners") may request that Microsoft revoke the DRM Software's right to copy, display and/or play Secure Content. Revocation does not alter the DRM Software's ability to play unprotected content. A list of revoked DRM Software is sent to your computer whenever you download a license for Secure Content from the Internet. YOU THEREFORE AGREE THAT MICROSOFT MAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH LICENSE, ALSO DOWNLOAD REVOCATION LISTS ONTO YOUR COMPUTER ON BEHALF OF SECURE CONTENT OWNERS. Microsoft will not retrieve any personally identifiable information, or any other information, from your computer by downloading such revocation lists. Secure Content Owners may also require you to upgrade some of the DRM components in the applicable OS Product ("DRM Upgrades") before accessing their content. When you attempt to play such content, Microsoft DRM Software will notify you that a DRM Upgrade is required and then ask for your consent before the DRM Upgrade is downloaded. Third party DRM Software may do the same. If you decline the upgrade, you will not be able to access content that requires the DRM Upgrade; however, you will still be able to access unprotected content and Secure Content that does not require the upgrade.
-- Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
Re:You're mistaken
by
Anonymous Coward
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· Score: 2, Interesting
I don't think MS does something for the purpose of screwing consumers as your "unfortunate" comment would suggest, but it does things that will make money for itself which has as an inadvertent side effect the screwing of the consumers.
Re: You're mistaken
by
s20451
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· Score: 3, Interesting
Microsoft did something in the best interests of Microsoft. elping consumers was an unfortunate, inadvertent side effect
But wait. The customers refused to buy something that they didn't want. Microsoft realized that such a strategy wouldn't earn them any money. Since Microsoft wants money, they avoided doing what the customers didn't want. Is it possible that the system works? *shudder*
It is you who are mistaken... about a great many things...
Re:We can't put too much stock in this QWZX
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
I will.
Microsoft spoke out late last fall against the proposed SSSCA. Only to patent a DRM-enabled OS and then get into bed with the entertainment companies on content delivery.
One step forward. Two steps back.
Given this annoucement, look to see Microsoft either reintroduce this consumer-hostile measure in another guise, or backtrack on their position that DRM is best done through the market and not Congress.
Slashdot Mirror
They'll just take a different route towards keeping people away from the data. And be sneaky about it.
Maybe they will bow to even more consumer pressure and allow filtering of commercials.
But I suppose it would be too much to hope for...
I recently read an article explaining how the DVI interface works and how they plan on implementing an encryption system in future versions. Essentially, the HDTV will have an encryption key key and the output device will have a key. This should (in theory) completly prevent someone from copying the digital signal with another device. What does this mean for people who currently own HDTV's? They may not be compatible with new signals and thus you will be required to buy a new one or have to use a lower quality analog signal. They media and electronics industries don't need Microsoft to restrict fair use rights.
I'm not saying this is a good thing, it's just where the industry is headed.
It is good to see "digital rights massacre" plans starting to fall apart. First several high profile bills aimed to restore fair use and reign in the DMCA and now this.
I think that those with power in the industry are finally starting to see that the natives are indeed getting restless over this and realizing that they are headed for some extremely major consumer backlash if they press ahead with current DRM proposals.
Of course, it is not time to party just yet as the MPAA and RIAA have yet to acknowledge the clue stick which everyone and their brother has been whacking them with for the past 4 years, but if Microsoft and some members of Congress are starting to see the light, then anything is possible.
Once campaign finance reform kicks in and if voters give the Senetors and Reps from Disney/MPAA/RIAA the smackdown at the polls they so richly deserve, we might see the pendulum swing back our way again in the next 3-5 years.
--Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop. - Dr. Walter Gibbs
According to http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10 738,2884933,00.html MS will still lock the content if the recorder picksup the special copyprotection marker in the broadcast... So as soon as the content providers turn this on have fun sitting infrunt of your multimeda PC watching your shows.
EA David Gardner -"... but the consumers have proven that actually what they want is fun."
Will the market really tolerate Palladium?
An interesting newsgroup thread over at Google News.
It's a question I've been asking myself. I mean, how will Microsoft succeed with their plans? Which manufacturer wish to be the first to have a huge disadvantage by supplying the initial Palladium-supporting hardware? How can we be sure that the manufacturers are simply going to release hardware supporting Palladium? Won't it just work like in the past instead, where mp3 players made it easier for piracy and DVD players often can be made region free, by a simple flip of a jumper? Where CD-burners often support low-level duplication and overburning they don't *need* to support, but manufacturers *know* that they're more likely to sell if their drive support CloneCD and similar programs that's used in 9 cases out of 10 for piracy. They never admit it, but everyone knows it.
How will Palladium suddenly change this philosophy of the manufacters? Won't they be tempted to go the "dirty" path (of course not officially; they'll just "not include Palladium support") by looking into the enormous public interest that will arise in hardware not supporting hardware copy protections?
Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
>Heck, BugBear is such a big deal only because nobody bothered to apply a security patch that was issued 18 months ago [microsoft.com]!
...Which only fuels microsoft's argument towards automagic, behind-your-back updates to your computer. "We need to do it for the general stability of the internet (and will make it DRM compliant while we're in there)"
It does make me curious: which distros of Linux provide similar PVR support. Mmmm?
TiVo.
I hadn't known there were so many idiots in the world until I started using the Internet -Stanislaw Lem
"Microsoft has bowed to consumer pressure and pulled back from a controversial plan that would have encrypted TV shows recorded on forthcoming digital media PCs."
Relax RIAA. They can always add it back in with the inevitable security patch.
The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!
They rewrote the WMP 6.4 and 7.1 security update EULA to remove the onerous "root access" provision.
Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
I don't think MS does something for the purpose of screwing consumers as your "unfortunate" comment would suggest, but it does things that will make money for itself which has as an inadvertent side effect the screwing of the consumers.
Microsoft did something in the best interests of Microsoft. elping consumers was an unfortunate, inadvertent side effect
But wait. The customers refused to buy something that they didn't want. Microsoft realized that such a strategy wouldn't earn them any money. Since Microsoft wants money, they avoided doing what the customers didn't want. Is it possible that the system works? *shudder*
It is you who are mistaken ... about a great many things ...
Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
I will.
Microsoft spoke out late last fall against the proposed SSSCA. Only to patent a DRM-enabled OS and then get into bed with the entertainment companies on content delivery.
One step forward. Two steps back.
Given this annoucement, look to see Microsoft either reintroduce this consumer-hostile measure in another guise, or backtrack on their position that DRM is best done through the market and not Congress.