Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft-Sony Plan: A Media-Rights Ploy?

Posted by timothy on from the just-sign-here-and-here-and-here-and-here dept.

sk8rboi writes "Missing in Wed.'s (CNet) reports about the Digital Home Working Group (DHWG) effort from âoeMicrosoft and Sony to make sure DVD players and cell phones can communicate with each other over a home wireless networkâ is the real reason for the work--it's a DRM (digital rights management) play in disguise. Look at it logically. Why would an industry alliance need to define a standard to share an MP3 file between a smart phone and a PC? According to EmbeddedWatch, the answer is, it wouldnâ(TM)t. The file can already be shared via wireless email or WiFi. And both can read the file, since both support MP3. Consumer-electronics systems and computers can already interchange all sorts of files. But what they canâ(TM)t do--and what companies like Microsoft and Sony wish they could--is regulate the transfer of such files (aka block them if theyâ(TM)ve been downloaded for free from KaZaa). (DHWG, by the way, is actually led by Intel.)"

4 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. wireless? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Home hacking is going to be real fun. Now it's me who has the remote :D

  2. This season's slashdot fashion news... by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tin foil hats are in, gentoo tshirts are in, microsoft tshirts are out.

    At least Microsoft won't have to worry about running out at Comdex ;o)

    --
    Beep beep.
    1. Re:This season's slashdot fashion news... by moncyb · · Score: 2, Funny

      M$ will run out. A fair group of Linux chicks will descend upon them and use the shirts to wipe their asses. It will be quite a spectacle to see!

  3. ploy? by chunkwhite86 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ploy shmoy. These guys are our friends arent they?? They are just trying to help us by giving us new and innovative technology!! This is so wonderful!


    *ARGH!* Stop throwing things at me! *OUCH!* I was just joking, *ACK!* I swear!

    --
    I'd rather be a conservative nutjob than a liberal with no nuts and no job.