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FCC Says TiVo Owners Can Share Shows

Ec|ipse writes "Last week TiVo received alot of heat from MPAA and NFL for a proposal regarding sharing of recorded shows with users, see previous story. Today it looks like TiVo has received approval." From the Reuters story as carried by Yahoo!: "TiVo, maker of popular digital television recording devices, on Wednesday received approval for technology that would permit users to send copies of digital broadcast shows over the Internet to a few friends."

196 comments

  1. YES! by grumpygrodyguy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Three words....

    There is a GOD!

    --
    The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
    1. Re:YES! by SpooForBrains · · Score: 2, Informative

      Three more: Never gonna happen :)

      --
      "The dew has clearly fallen with a particularly sickening thud this morning"
    2. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      4 words...

    3. Re:YES! by grumpygrodyguy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Three words....

      umm, make that 4-words, but still! =)

      --
      The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
    4. Re:YES! by aka-ed · · Score: 5, Informative
      Don't celebrate. Did you RTFA? DRM will keep your shared programming to a max of 9 good friends. No promise that the presence of DRM won't allow some things to be made unshareable somewhere up the road. Anyway it won't be in your hands to make those decisions...

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    5. Re:YES! by Grant29 · · Score: 1

      Hopefully this will open up the ability for dvarchive to include show-sharing for the ReplayTV users. I don't think it's a problem adding the code, it's just not on the top of the developer's list of things to do.

      --
      3 Gmail invitations availiable

    6. Re:YES! by aka-ed · · Score: 2, Informative

      I doubt it. Your circle of friends have to be authorized by a key. You can't switch those around very easily, I'm sure.

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    7. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Insightful?!

      The Freethinkers ought to be getting up in arms... quick, someone make a comment about Intelligent Design!

    8. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      "Thereis" is one word. Kind of like "alot" (in the first sentence of this /. story!)

    9. Re:YES! by TedCheshireAcad · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Maybe so, but there still isn't decent home broadband speed to handle this kind of punishment. Imagine trying to send out 300-400MB from your home cable modem to 5 people. It would take a long freaking time, especially with many cable providers capping upload speeds severely.

      Now maybe if they could hire Bram Cohen to implement a really bad-ass p2p way of sending things about, maybe then the poor guy could stop begging for handouts on his BitTorrent site.

      In a perfect world, this could all be easily serviced by FTTH, let's hope Verizon's plan takes off. But seriously, though, if this is implemented, I'd give it a week or so before someone creates a kind of Software-TiVo with capability to export received shows to DivX, and TV shows spread like malaria.

    10. Re:YES! by PierceLabs · · Score: 2, Insightful

      9 friends > 0 friends, and in this day and age we have to take the victories we can get.

    11. Re:YES! by ron_ivi · · Score: 4, Funny

      There are /. readers with more than 9 friends! Wow.

    12. Re:YES! by SEE · · Score: 2

      Of course there is a God, for TiVo is God's machine.

    13. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
      One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
      Dan Quayle, 12/6/89
    14. Re:YES! by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      Once you allow it to be copied to the home computer, the DRM becomes useless- because you simply copy the file, and hide it in a zip, before sending it out to 9 friends, then bring out a new copy, send it to 9 more friends, etc. It does prevent MASS duplication quickly, however.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    15. Re:YES! by SensitiveMale · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Three words....

      There is a GOD!

      NO BUSH IN 2004. Save our civil liberties!


      Three words? I count four.

      I guess the "intellectuals" are campaigning against Bush.

    16. Re:YES! by The+Only+Druid · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well, there are a few places you're incorrect.

      First, TivoToGo seems to be a streaming application, akin to the current HMO features on Tivos. This means that there will [likely] never be a complete copy of the file on the computer. This of course doesn't prevent someone from developing an app to catch the stream. Good luck though.

      Second, you didn't read the article: in order to play back one of the Tivo'd files, you'll need a physical dongle - a small USB tab - to provide the decryption key. That is how they limit you to nine people: only nine dongles can be tied into your Tivo's account.

      Now, it should be noted that existing hacks (look for "Sleeper's ISO" for more info, to start) provide the ability to fully extract video off a Tivo (after it's been hacked somewhat), and that is what Tivo is trying to combat. In much the same way that iTunes' Music Store snagged the music-downloaders who were willing to pay a little for the convenience of (a) downloading the file quickly and (b) doing so legally, Tivo is hoping that TivoToGo will snag the people who want to view their shows in other places and do so without violating their warranty.

      --
      "Stumble before you crawl"
    17. Re:YES! by blackmonday · · Score: 1

      Three words:

      That's four words!

    18. Re:YES! by Malc · · Score: 0

      He said good friends...

    19. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    20. Re:YES! by Maxite · · Score: 1

      Three words

      That's four words!

      That also is four words. That's is a contraction for "That is", which is two words.

      --
      Ah, you found me!
    21. Re:YES! by PalmerEldritch42 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Through the Gnutella network, I have millions of close friends.

      --
      Ceci n'est pas une sig.

      :wq!

    22. Re:YES! by Not_Wiggins · · Score: 1

      Three words.... There is a GOD!

      That's four words.

      But, I like your math... guess that means I'll be able to share programs with 12 of my friends. ;)

      --
      Diplomacy is the art of saying, "Nice doggie!" until you can find a rock.
    23. Re:YES! by enrico_suave · · Score: 1

      but have you seen the dongle? (no i'm not being dirty...) Keep your silly DRM off my mpeg's =)

      Although I realize in order for TiVo to seem "on the level" they need to provide certain assurances of copyright "protection". But man... I can't stand requiring a dongle for anything ( i.e. license management for software )

      e.

      --
      Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
    24. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Limited sharing" is practically a contradiction in terms, for it is only possible if the information has no escape.

      Until such time as we live in a police state where every single means of communication has to be controlled and there are no uncontrolled means (something I remember Russia trying to do, with registered typewriters & such), we CAN liberate the information. And I'm willing to bet that someone WILL do so, the laws (hopefully quite literally) notwithstanding...

    25. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One of those friends, king Pyrrhus, wants a word, sir.

    26. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That only proves what I believed all along: "There is a" is three words, and "GOD" is just a figment of your imagination.

    27. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is four words....

      (this is three)

    28. Re:YES! by Ja�ana · · Score: 1

      Have you failed to notice that we always manage to find some way around DRM? In this case, although I don't really know all of the details, it seems like a video capture card and gnutella would suffice. Only difference is it's not resltime and it can be distributed indefinitely.

      --

      -- Napalm sticks to kids.

    29. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Second, you didn't read the article: in order to play back one of the Tivo'd files, you'll need a physical dongle - a small USB tab - to provide the decryption key. That is how they limit you to nine people: only nine dongles can be tied into your Tivo's account.
      To quote Smaug: "your information is antiquated".

      According to recent posts by TiVo employees on the TiVo Community Forum, they have decided to eliminate the hardware dongle altogether. They were originally going to use a dongle, but decided not to.

      So encryption is software only. Since I believe you can only have a max of ten TiVo boxes under one account, that means one TiVo box can share with 9 others; but usually they won't be sharing across the internet, but only on one's home LAN. In reality few people are going to want to share a single account over the internet, unless they have multiple homes, or they are sharing with family members.

      Also, there is nothing preventing you from copying a show from TiVo2Go to your PC, and then burning it to a DVD. Once it is on DVD, it is no longer encrypted and you can do whatever the hell you want with it.
    30. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Save whose civil liberties? You want to talk about an organization whose primary goal is to take away one of the first-named civil liberties in the Constitution, the freedom from government interference in religion, look at the ACLU. They have time and time again promoted government regulation in order to take Christianity out of America, but have supported every other religion in the world.

      Civil liberties for some? Never! I want liberty for all!

    31. Re:YES! by dcstimm · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Only people that have trouble counting want Bush out...

    32. Re:YES! by Dever · · Score: 1
      OT for sure, but excellent link in your sig and related at openspeech.org

      bitchin.

      what the shit is the new yorker doing with this?

      ok, i'm done.

      --
      - I'd prefer not to.
    33. Re:YES! by Zone-MR · · Score: 1
    34. Re:YES! by aonaran · · Score: 1

      Why not just install Vstream on the Tivo and Tivo-Mplayer on the remote PC?

      share with whomever you want. ...or FTP the video off the Tivo and watch it in regular Mplayer?

    35. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's okay, the all the other morons (and Walmart-shopping, NASCAR loving white trash) love Bush. What was your point?

    36. Re:YES! by nat5an · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure if they've changed the technology since it was first announced, but one of the selling points in the original announcement was something along the lines of copying a show to your laptop and watching it on an airplane. Doesn't sound like streaming technology to me. To my understanding, you get a copy of the show on your computer that you can only watch with their special TivoToGo player (or possibly a codec that can plug into other players).

      --
      Head down, go to sleep to the rhythm of the war drums...
    37. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not exactly sure about TivoToGo, but the HMO program sharing feature ISN'T streamed. It simply makes a copy of the show on the target Tivo. You can, of course, start watching the show on the target before the copy is complete (just like a recording off any other video source). With a fast enough network link, this gives the appearance of pseudo-"streaming".

      The MP3 and photo sharing features are streamed (from PC to Tivo), but I don't think those are what you were referring to.

    38. Re:YES! by aka-ed · · Score: 1
      My point in telling the guy not to celebrate has less to do with the practical aspects of sharing with the device, and more to do with the fact that the success of this item will be one more legitimization of the DRM method of securing IP.

      --
      I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
    39. Re:YES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      early in his talk before the aclu, Sy Hersh said that the story on this "wasn't finished yet." I am assuming the story will appear in the New Yorker when done, as that's where he broke the original Abu Ghraib story.

    40. Re:YES! by elhaf · · Score: 1

      I, for one, will be sharing shows with my neighbors, and vice versa, once I get my super-wifi-antenna that is backordered.

      --
      Six score characters.
      Brevity being wit's soul
      I have enough space.
  2. Strike one ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful


    now about this RIAA mob...

    1. Re:Strike one ! by jseale · · Score: 1

      Yeah, no kidding. You just know that they'll just poo-poo this idea when it comes to music file sharing.
      The RIAA and its members have apparently become sacred cows unfortunately. Kudos to the MPAA and FCC though.

    2. Re:Strike one ! by canajin56 · · Score: 1

      Kudos to the MPAA? The MPAA and the NFL fought this, and are not at all happy with it. It's in the article, AND the blurb at the top.

      --
      ASCII stupid question, get a stupid ANSI
    3. Re:Strike one ! by Buran · · Score: 1

      They can fucking deal. They've been getting fat off everyone for too damn long as it is.

  3. Amazing... A step forward? by ianbnet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am always skeptical of how this will play out in the long run, but this looks like it could have a significant impact in returning fair-use rights to consumers.

    I would love to know how this might act as a precedent for computer-based sharing methods... i.e. recording a show with BeyondTV or another PVR and emailing it to a friend.

    --
    --------------------- -me, Crusher of those who are Foolish (don't be foolish)
    1. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by TedTschopp · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Now, they just need to come up with a system so you can track your closest friends to ensure that you don't give it to someone who isn't a friend of yours.

      Oh, wait, do I really want the government to have that information? I mean it would be wonderful, when they drag you in for being a terrorist, they can drag your friends in as well, or when one of your friends gets dragged in, so do you.

      Ted Tschopp

      --
      Fantasy remains a human right; we make in our measure and in our derivative mode... -- JRR Tolkien
    2. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      More like a step to the side. Clearly not backwards but not entirely forward either.

      Here's the problem: "fair use" cannot be determined by a computer algorithm. People are attempting to use computer algorithms to make sure nothing outside "fair use" happens. Since error is inevitable, media companies always make sure the error is in the direction of "they're just making a backup but we think they're a pirate" than "they're making four hundred copies, but hey, maybe they've got 400 TVs". They may adjust their formulas every now and then but the new formulas will still be wrong.

      As long as we accept computers making LEGAL DECISIONS for us, then we will never get our fair use rights back. Getting fair use rights back MEANS also getting back the ability to pirate media. You can't separate one activity from the other except with a human judge. ...which is the way it should be. All DRM should simply go away. You will then have ALL of your fair use rights, and you will also have the ability to pirate media. However, pirating media has been against the law for as long as I can remember (longer than the computer industry has existed for sure), so you can still get arrested for it.

      So in my Slashdot-friendly dream world, everyone has fair use rights and pirates go to jail. In RIAA/MPAA DRM-friendly dream world, "fair use" users and pirates are both thrown in jail, and media companies, not the law, get to determine the new definition of "fair use". Today's definition is "sharing with 9 friends".

    3. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by gcaseye6677 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As we've seen with copy protected CDs, fair use rights don't always mean freedom for the customer. Apparently, the recording industry is permitted to make CDs that are "copyproof" despite fair use clauses in copyright law. The rationale is that the customer cannot be prosecuted for making personal copies but the producer does not have to do anything to enable that, and can apparently stop it too. In this case, I didn't see anything in the article that said the NFL or other content producers had to go along with this, it only said the FCC gave TiVO the OK on the technology. I expect to see lots of obstruction efforts on the part of media companies and would be surprised if this gets resolved anytime soon. In the mean time, legitimate customers will be inconvenienced and pirates will continue as usual.

    4. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by homer_ca · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "As long as we accept computers making LEGAL DECISIONS for us, then we will never get our fair use rights back."

      The reason people haven't complained about these laws against petty crimes is because traditionally it was impossible or impractical to enforce them perfectly. How the hell do you stop people from taping songs off the radio or lending VHS tapes of shows they recorded off the air or driving a few mph over the speed limit. Well now with computers it's possible to build recorders that refuse to record off the air or a computer for the car that prints out a speeding ticket every time you go over the speed limit even by 1 mph.

      There's an old saying: The best way to repeal an unpopular law is to enforce it strictly.

    5. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All laws are enforced imperfectly. Even murder for chrissakes. The fact is that media pirates WERE busted long before DRM was a twinkle in anyone's eye. Not all of them, but a lot of them.

      Some are selectively enforced, like speed limits (if the cop sees you going 1mph over, he will usually not cite you even though he witnesses the "crime") Some are not enforced for practical reasons (not enough police manpower to put every person under continuous surveillance)--that's the way copyright and murder are imperfectly enforced. I would have no problem at all if pre-DMCA copyright laws were enforced 100% strictly (although I might object to the means they used to achieve that remarkable figure). I don't see people clamoring for less enforcement of murder laws. I think your broad overgeneralization is too broad. DRM isn't "perfect enforcement" for copyright laws--it's a complete rewrite that nobody ever gets to vote on.

    6. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by jgabby · · Score: 2, Informative

      The government doesn't have to - Tivo's doing it for them. Content can only be transferred between devices associated to the same credit card. Are you going to give something that you're paying a significant monthly fee for to a complete stranger?

    7. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by jgabby · · Score: 1

      I would love to know how this might act as a precedent for computer-based sharing methods... i.e. recording a show with BeyondTV or another PVR and emailing it to a friend.

      That is excatly what the Broadcast Flag is supposed to prevent (with Digital TV anyway - Analog is still completely up for grabs for now ;-) ), and exactly what Tivo does not let you do.

    8. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by PierceLabs · · Score: 1

      Well one thing is for certain, we'll find out how good those 'no fraud' credit card warranties are when people start passing this data out to strangers :)

    9. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by Richard_at_work · · Score: 1
      Couple of problems:

      1. US Copyright laws Fair Use clauses do not support complete copying of copyrighted goods, only computer software has an exemption to allow you to back it up. Fair use clauses give you the power to use small, insignificant portions of the copyrighted material in other works, eg quoted sources.
      2. As you state, the copyright owner DOES NOT have to make it easy or able for you to exercise fair use clauses. I dont see the fair use in giving copies out to 9 other people, thats not fair use, thats distribution.
    10. Re:Amazing... A step forward? by mwa · · Score: 1
      1. US Copyright laws Fair Use clauses do not support complete copying of copyrighted goods, only computer software has an exemption to allow you to back it up. Fair use clauses give you the power to use small, insignificant portions of the copyrighted material in other works, eg quoted sources.
      2. 2. As you state, the copyright owner DOES NOT have to make it easy or able for you to exercise fair use clauses. I dont see the fair use in giving copies out to 9 other people, thats not fair use, thats distribution.
      Sony v. Betamax added:
      • 3. The right to "time and space shift"
      Unfortunately #2 has also been upheld in court which, when combined with the DMCA gives the copyright owner the ability to make fair use illegal.

      Whether distributing to 9 other people constistutes fair use or distribution is up to a court to decide. Right now, the FCC deems it fair use, under TiVo's proposed restricted distribution mechanism, so that's a fairly significant step decision that will be considered in any U.S. court.

  4. p2p by mcovey · · Score: 1, Informative

    now hopefully they can be shared over p2p as well. same concept, different deployment.

    --
    Amen.
    1. Re:p2p by huchida · · Score: 1

      Why, are you having a hard time finding TV shows on torrent or P2P networks? Doesn't seem like you need this technology to do that, there are already a dozen ways you can grab a show off cable and put it out there.

      I'm sure, like iTunes, there will be some relatively simple workarounds and hacks... But hopefully this won't be over-exploited. I hate DRM as much as the next guy, but I do want this decision to set a precendent against the other draconian laws being proposed.

    2. Re:p2p by lucason · · Score: 1

      Then maybe I could finally see a football game in europe. Not that I'm so into football, but nostalgia get's the better of me sometimes.

      Isn't it weird that I can find "Shrek2" on P2P before it releases, but I can not find even 1 NFL game anywhere.

  5. What if Janet Jackson gets jiggy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    But if JJ jumps up during half time and does a strip tease to some Willie Nelson song, can the RIAA sue the sh*t out of America?

    1. Re:What if Janet Jackson gets jiggy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The irony in this statement is that you chose to censor your own words while mocking the FCC's censorship policies.

    2. Re:What if Janet Jackson gets jiggy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought that was the appropriate use of language on /.

      There's much to be said for using language correctly based on the audience. I'm not sure /. wants me to write words like shit, piss, dick, cunt, cock-sucker, mother-fucker, and tits.

    3. Re:What if Janet Jackson gets jiggy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      /. wants you to moon the waiter. That's all. how difficult is that?

    4. Re:What if Janet Jackson gets jiggy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and TITS doesn't even belong on the LIST.

  6. Pessimist in me... by KrackHouse · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This will last a few days untill the waves of lobbyists show up and the FCC and demand a better return on investment.

    --
    What if Digg added local news and a Slashdot inspired comment karma system? ---
    http://houndwire.com
  7. I wonder... by Marscity9 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have heard rumors about PMP (personal/portable media players) being able to hook up to the TIVO, and then you can watch it anywhere. If this would allow it, I think it would be great for Tivo, so anyone can use it to watch their favorite show anywhere.

    1. Re:I wonder... by ifreakshow · · Score: 2

      You can actually do this with the windows media server and some new PMP that are coming out from Samsung, Sanyo and Creative. Amazon is taking pre-orders, though the products are not yet on the market. see this article for more info

    2. Re:I wonder... by slashdotbs · · Score: 1

      if its windows media server, the video will have some draconian drm scheme. with tivo, it's mpeg, at least it has been up to now.

    3. Re:I wonder... by op00to · · Score: 1

      Oh man ... and if you can share the media on your player on the internet.. You can be a PiMP!

    4. Re:I wonder... by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      Now lets fast forward 5-10 years. Lets say there is pervasive wifi in every major city. Now lets say portable video players have become mainstream, most likely due to Apple releasing a video iPod or something.

      Just imagine if TIVO had a service where you could subscribe to them (and you'd probably have to be a cable subscriber at home as well), and they would be able to stream or send the shows you scheduled to your PMP wherever you are. That would be seriously cool, and more than enough incentive to make me pay a lot of money for a PMP and TIVO.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  8. Wow by brandonY · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'll be more impressed if they can be uploaded freely as a standard file without any of this password nonsense, but this is still much, much, much better than caving to the football lobby.

  9. Groovy. What harm can it do? by underpar · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean.. I know "airing regional games outside of their market" is dangerous to the fabric of society and capitalism as a whole, but I'd like to send 'Office Space' to my sister. It seems wrong for an office worker to have never seen that movie.

    1. Re:Groovy. What harm can it do? by Zaranne · · Score: 1

      ...dangerous to the fabric of society and capitalism as a whole...

      There goes the space/time continuum...too many toys for all the boys and the whole universe goes into flux.

      --
      So when is the Hawkeye movie coming out?
    2. Re:Groovy. What harm can it do? by slycer9 · · Score: 0

      Simple solution.

      Send her to BlockBuster with five bucks.
      Movie, soda, popcorn.

      Crisis averted.

      Somtimes the simplest solution and all that rubbish...

      --
      Don't park drunk, accidents cause people.
  10. Link to FCC complaint page... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was hoping someone had a link to the FCC complaint page where I can report problems with my local cable company and its stance on DVRs and firewire-outputs. Basically they are not complying with rulings and I'd like to put some heat on them.

  11. Hooray! by Laivincolmo · · Score: 1

    Legal filesharing at last!

  12. Finally, the Legal system working for us. by mesmartyoudumb · · Score: 5, Funny

    The End is near!
    Long gone are the days of law makers stomping on the face of the digitally inclined.

    So long 50 year copyright act!
    so long DMCA!
    So long RIAA lawsuites!

    Ok..maybe im a little optimistic.

    --
    "Comedy's a dead art form. Now tragedy, that's funny."
    1. Re:Finally, the Legal system working for us. by WD_40 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Is a lawsuite like a lawhotelroom, but nicer?

      --

      "With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine." -- RFC 1925

    2. Re:Finally, the Legal system working for us. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. It's kind of like how I always wanted to get a replacement badge for my car in college that said "Prostitute". Because, when an Escort is old and worn out, that's what it ends up as.

  13. At least until... by MaineCoon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At least until the corporations lobby and buy a change of decision from the FCC.

    While this is a win for fair use rights (although it could sanely be argued it goes beyond fair use, I'm not going to be the one doing the arguing), it goes without saying that the MPAA and friends will not take this sitting down.

    --
    Hunt your preferred prey at Aliens vs Predator MUD. Join the war at avpmud.com port 4000
    1. Re:At least until... by Deagol · · Score: 1
      They won't challenge the FCC (well, they might a little, for good publicity). They'll just change the laws instead. I'm sure they already have another "Induce Act" clone ready in some intern's hands, waiting to hand copies to senator hatch (he doens't deserve CAPS anymore) to introduce into law.

      In 5 years Tivos will either be illegal or they'll be licensed into bankruptcy and bought by MPAA/NFA member companies (then touted as the greatest modern invention since the Servel Refrigerator).

    2. Re:At least until... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahhh, this is all such a small thing on the grand scale of things. Expect to buy the damned dongles for TiVO on the black market soon, along with something to bypass their damned restrictions. Then expect to buy non-TiVO boxes on the black market without any such artificial restrictions. Does anybody remember how well prohibition worked? A fine example of how successful laws are in stopping people from doing what they want to do in the first place.

      They can't stop the technology, they can't put the genie back into the bottle and they cannot close Pandora's box once opened. Whatever Man can do, Man will do!

      And those that stand in the way of progress will be steamrollered into little black greasy spots on the road to the future. This includes the MPAA, RIAA and the FCC for that matter.

  14. Hmm will MLB still come after me.. by NightWulf · · Score: 4, Funny

    if I only have implied oral consent..but not expressed written consent?

    1. Re:Hmm will MLB still come after me.. by Zackbass · · Score: 1

      Not if you're in international waters.

      --
      You gotta find first gear in your giant robot car
    2. Re:Hmm will MLB still come after me.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or so the legend goes...

  15. If it can be moved to computer by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 1
    it can be hacked, the copy protection removed. Now I can sell all of the NFL broadcasts after the game for $50 a piece and make a killing muhahahah. Yeah right.

    Seriously, it's about time some reasonable (semi)decisions came down.

  16. Michael Powell by david_reese · · Score: 1
    ... wasn't he quoted as saying that his newly gifted TiVo (back in 2k2 or something) was
    "God's machine"?

    Oh yeah, here's the link. What does this prove?

    1. Re:Michael Powell by javaxman · · Score: 1
      Yup. Funny how people act when they have an actual interest at stake, huh? If Powell didn't like his Tivo, how do you think this would have gone down?

      Now the broadcasters and MPAA are going to have to go to congress. Oh, wait, they already own that branch. INDUCE will have a special broadcast rights clause now... and I'm betting it won't be protecting consumers.

  17. Wow... by Cyno01 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Lets hear it for, uhm, more than fair use. So are we liking the FCC this week now or what?

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  18. Wait a second..... by DWXXV · · Score: 0

    Does this mean some idiotic corporate plot failed ? In all seriousness did we actually win one here? There has to be a catch....

    --
    A ruler wears a crown while the rest of us wear hats. But which would you rather have when it's raining?
  19. ReplayTV was right after all by vaylen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Maybe this means http://www.planetreplay.com/ can allow people to share shows from their ReplayTV's again.

    --

  20. No P2P for you by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's not at all the same concept. TiVo2Go is like iTunes; you can only share among computers registered with the same account.

    1. Re:No P2P for you by slashdotbs · · Score: 1

      it's like comparing apples and calamari. this is, imo, more like video taping shows for personal archiving.

  21. Woo! by Suriel · · Score: 0

    Now i can complete my futurama collection :) How are they going to limit sharing to "Just a few friends" i wonder... Enter: Microsoft DRM

  22. ReplayTV anybody? by jahead · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anybody remember the ReplayTV 4500 and 5000 series? They both allowed show sharing. It was a major selling point for ReplayTV, in fact. They were sued by Disney and a few other broadcasters to stop show sharing (as well as an automatic commercial skip feature). There was even a limit on the number of times you could send a show (five times). Does this ruling mean that TiVo cannot be sued and that ReplayTV can reintroduce the feature?

  23. What's next? by rsilvergun · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Legit bittorrent downloads? Sounds cool, but I wonder how long it'll last (TV shows to DVD is a lucrative market, and I doubt studios like the idea of competing with downloads). There's bound to be some limitations (I'm at work and too lazy/busy to read the whole article just yet), but still, I just can't believe this is happening. How did this get through?

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:What's next? by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

      Unless you can get a torrent of a complete season at resonable quality, which you can, but its still a PITA and slow, TV DVDs aren't going anywhere. Although they need to work out there pricing. $20 for the first season of Chappeles Show (13 20 minute eps and tons of special features), $50 for a season of Stargate (about 22 45 minute eps, special features) and Star Trek and Farscape (22-26 45 minute eps and some features for $100). Theres such a range on all of these, they really need to standardize a pricing scheme.

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    2. Re:What's next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Don't forget, watching a show while sitting in a couch in front of the living room is more confortable than watching the show while sitting in a chair in front of a computer monitor.

      Converting to VCD is an even bigger PITA...especially for a whole season. For that reason alone, shelling out for a whole season will be worthwhile.

      Compare this with audio CD's and the issue of downloadable mp3s.

      -cmh

    3. Re:What's next? by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

      It's not that hard to download DVD isos and burn them. Yes, it takes time, but if you're a $9 or less wage slave, your time is worth less than the cost of the DVD, especially when you consider how little real effort it takes to pirate stuff these days compared to the time you spend working to afford the actual DVD.

      --
      Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    4. Re:What's next? by Cyno01 · · Score: 1
      Don't forget, watching a show while sitting in a couch in front of the living room is more confortable than watching the show while sitting in a chair in front of a computer monitor.
      The days of 15" CRTs and motherboard sound are over. I have a 20" widescreen monitor, surround sound and a couch 6 feet behind my computer.
      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    5. Re:What's next? by Dever · · Score: 3, Funny
      "I have a 20" widescreen monitor, surround sound and a couch 6 feet behind my computer."

      That must suck when everyone on the couch has to sit behind your computer and watch you watching a show.
      bastard.

      --
      - I'd prefer not to.
  24. a "few" friends? by deunan_k · · Score: 1

    I like it when they mentioned a few friends... How do you define a few friends?

    Just wondering.. What's stopping me creating a website with user registration and all :-

    Register here to become my friend.. - link

    After that, all my friends can download and share between each other my digital tivo content via a medium.. say.. Bittorrent?

    I mean, why start/stop at register to become friends? Why not, by visiting this webpage, you're my friend, therefore, I'm letting you having a go at my collection... No registration required...

    Cool!

    Regards all...

    --
    Will sys-admin for food
  25. is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by josecanuc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? They are in charge of regulating the airwaves of the United States. Once you've received a digital program over the air, does the FCC have any more authority to tell you what you can do with the copyrighted product that they don't even have the rights to distribute?

    I'm just asking...

    1. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by ca1v1n · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The FCC has the power to regulate devices which receive such signals. The TiVo does this. If you separated the receiver and the more interesting parts of the TiVo into separate black boxes, you probably wouldn't get anywhere, since they'd functionally be part of the same device.

    2. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 1

      That is a contested issue. When the broadcast flag was first proposed, several groups protested that the FCC does not have proper jurisdiction. (Of course the FCC thinks that they do.) It won't be resolved until either someone sues the FCC or Congress specifically authorizes the broadcast flag.

    3. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by ZombieEngineer · · Score: 1

      Answer the following questions:
      a) In which jurisdiction does telephones fall under?
      b) In which jurisdiction does the internet fall under?

      If you don't know, government beauracarcies will fill the gap (several departments will often grab the same space until the courts decide who "owns" the juridiction) rather than let it go unregulated.

      ZombieEngineer

    4. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by josecanuc · · Score: 1
      To answer my own question, from the FCC's website:
      The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.
      So in a vague way they could have jurisdiction, but the upshot is that the decision is really in the bounds of copyright law and not communications. In this case, then, the FCC authorized such a player to be created and sold, but did not and cannot authorize such a device to be legal with regards to various other copyright related laws (DMCA, etc.).
    5. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by PCM2 · · Score: 5, Informative
      Once you've received a digital program over the air, does the FCC have any more authority to tell you what you can do with the copyrighted product that they don't even have the rights to distribute?
      You are correct. What has happened here (according to the article) is that the FCC has adopted rules requiring digital broadcasters to implement controls (i.e. copy protection, DRM etc.) preventing indiscriminate sharing of media. So in other words, the FCC can regulate broadcasters, and one of the FCC's mandates to broadcasters is that the protect the rights of the copyright owners of the content they carry. TiVo has implemented some such restriction in thie new system, and the FCC has approved it -- meaning TiVo's system meets the FCC's definition of a scheme to protect copyright. (So I guess this also must mean that TiVo's system meet's the FCC's definition of a broadcaster?)

      Sounds to me like what's happened is that the MPAA and NFL won't be able to lobby the FCC to take action against TiVo. Instead, they'll have to spend their own money to sue TiVo under the DMCA.

      --
      Breakfast served all day!
    6. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by akajerry · · Score: 2, Informative

      The FCC did exactly what it's supposed to do when it specified the new digital TV broadcast standard; it created a national broadcast standard where clearly one is beneficial to the public. No jurisdiction question here.

      The MPAA successfully lobbied for the inclusion of the "broadcast flag" in the DTV standard, which when present in the broadcast signal requires the receiving device to provide appropriate copy protection to the program being broadcast. The FCC had no intent to disallow the recording, off-line storage or even limited sharing of high quality digital broadcasts, it simply intended to limit widespread re-distribution of high quality recordings.

      The FCC very wisely decided that there was no need to limit the set of appropriate copy protection mechanisms, so it established a procedure by which to certify a copy protection mechanisms. It's that procedure which TiVo availed themselves of (and you could too if you want).

      So given that the FCC has jurisdiction and that TiVo has satisfied the FCC that their copy protection mechanism provides reasonable protection against widespread re-distribution there's nothing for anyone to sue about except to claim that the FCC somehow violated its own procedures in certifying the TiVo mechanism.

      DCMA doesn't apply here either, since the TiVo software isn't circumventing a copy protection mechanism it's actually enforcing one. If you found a way to break the TiVo protection, that would violate the DCMA.

    7. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 3, Informative

      As far as I'm concerned they're out of their jurisdiction, but that's something only a judge can determine. Everybody here is celebrating the FCC's decision, but to me this is just another hint at the fact that the FCC is attempting to regulate copying through their broadcast flag mandate.

      I'd like to think that it's the job of Congress and not the FCC to regulate copying. Why is this an important distinction? Because congresspeople are elected, but FCC officials are appointed!

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    8. Re:is this in the FCC's jurisdiction? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think individual possessors of content should regulate copyright. Yes, Congress is elected. But in the food chain, the individuals are Congress' boss.

      Or so the theory goes...

  26. This is funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I was going to share them anyway.

    Once it is in my posession, it is my property and I will do with it exactly as I please. Piss on what someone else says.

    1. Re:This is funny by apachetoolbox · · Score: 1

      Thinking along the same lines... exactly what ever happened to "possession is 9/10ths of the law"?

    2. Re:This is funny by ovit · · Score: 0

      I see... So, by this logic, if I sold you a gun, you could turn around and shoot me with it? Because it's you're property?

      What if I RENTED you a book, and you turned around and sold it... ? Perfectly OK right?

      Ahh, never mind... The Slashdot crowd will never get it...

      Tony

  27. Yeah, Right. by scowling · · Score: 4, Interesting

    1. There's no way that this is gonna last.

    2. This is going to be used by current Usenet, BT and Kazaa-based sharers as justification for their broad distribution of TV shows (don't get me wrong; I download TV, but I wouldn't justify it like this).

    --
    www.kitchengeek.com -- Nosh for
    1. Re:Yeah, Right. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On'tday alktay aboutyay Usenetyay!

    2. Re:Yeah, Right. by scowling · · Score: 1

      Enh. It hardly matters. 90% of the TV currently posted to Usenet is distributed via BT first, and long enough previously that one could finish downloading it before the last RAR propogated over a.b.multimedia. If Usenet distribution ever got shut down, it would affect my^H^Hsomeone's ability to download the new Dead Like Me not one whit.

      --
      www.kitchengeek.com -- Nosh for
  28. Before the Smack-Down by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Insightful
    TiVo, maker of popular digital television recording devices, on Wednesday received approval [from FCC] for technology that would permit users to send copies of digital broadcast shows over the Internet to a few friends."

    I am always skeptical of how this will play out in the long run, but this looks like it could have a significant impact in returning fair-use rights to consumers. ... I would love to know how this might act as a precedent for computer-based sharing methods.

    You know that this will be appealed to the powers-that-be who will smack-down the FCC, yet again. It's the kind of news that gives you hope, just before your cynicism of the system is reinforced.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    1. Re:Before the Smack-Down by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 1

      the only legal way to smack down the FCC is to get congress to pass a law that prevents such activities.

      --



      I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
  29. What Is Today? by rsmith-mac · · Score: 3, Funny

    So does this mean this is a "love the FCC" day, or do we still get to hate them?

    1. Re:What Is Today? by PMuse · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I'm kinda stuck on, "How the H-E-double-hockey-sticks did that happen? Little weasels got something right for once." ...Which means there must be something cataclysmically _wrong_ about the TiVo plan that I'm just not seeing yet.

      --
      "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." --The American President (20.1.2009)
    2. Re:What Is Today? by rsmith-mac · · Score: 1

      Ahh, I found the problem, they're requiring VoIP to be tappable. I guess it's a hate day afterall.

    3. Re:What Is Today? by evilviper · · Score: 1
      So does this mean this is a "love the FCC" day, or do we still get to hate them?

      Well let's see... If somebody snuck up behind you and hit you over the head with a bottle, then processed to beat you for several minutes, BUT didn't kick you while you were down, would you love them for it?
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  30. Reporting from Cheney, WA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am currently located here in the lovely city of Cheney, which happens to be hosting the Seattle Seahawks training camp.

    The other day, as my roommate and I walked past the practice field (paid for by my tax dollars!) I mentioned that the goings on with Tivo and the NFL were really getting on my nerves (as I am highly supportive of my right to sit around and stare at the glowing picture tube.)

    An eery silence descended upon the land.

    A giant of a man, who stood 6 foot 6, weighed 245 (at the least!) looked at me and asked if I might happen to be "that commie nerd, CmdrTaco", who I bear a striking resemblence to. Of course, I am but a humble code monkey and part-time troll, and so replied that I was not, nor had ever been, a commie nerd taco. He became enraged, and I feared that he would pummel me senseless for my insolence.

    Luckily, a giant dust storm swept me away.
    They even caught it on camera; NWCN I believe.

    Now, for the meat of my post- can somebody get me out of this tree before this guy turns off his wireless router or my laptop dies? SCO Unix doesn't manage power very well.

    1. Re:Reporting from Cheney, WA... by Bloodlent · · Score: 1

      WTF?

  31. Join the poopli people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You just need a ReplayTV and the ability to type poopli.

  32. Freudian slip... by jared_hanson · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think what just occured there was a Freudian slip, and your subconcious was acknowledging that there is, in fact, no god.

    --
    -- Fighting mediocrity one bad post at a time.
    1. Re:Freudian slip... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think what just occured there was a Freudian slip, and your subconcious was acknowledging that there is, in fact, no god.

      And that he want's to make sweet sweet love to his mother! That too!

      (for the record, I have [his mom] and it was something to remember... Hooo Doggie.)

    2. Re:Freudian slip... by Servo · · Score: 2, Funny

      The rash never went away huh?

      --
      A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. -Benjamin Franklin
    3. Re:Freudian slip... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go shove your secular worship somewhere else. This isn't the place for it.

      People like you who try to talk people OUT of their faith, need to die. And if you tried it with me, face to face, I'd beat the fuck out of you.

    4. Re:Freudian slip... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and those of you who think that secularism (or worse, *science*) is some sort of religion need to extract your heads from your recatal cavities!

    5. Re:Freudian slip... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      There's nothing about real science that disproves God or the history written in the Bible. But alot of fake "science" is out there trying to say things have been proven that really haven't, using methods that have been proven to be highly erroneous. People put faith in that. And that, by definition, is religion.

    6. Re:Freudian slip... by bkr1_2k · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Okay, now I hate spelling trolls as much as anyone, but I hate religious zealots (for or against) worse, so I'm going to be a dick anyway. What the hell is a recatal cavity?

      If you're going to troll, at least do it with proper spelling and grammar.

      bkr

      --
      "Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional."
    7. Re:Freudian slip... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he want's to make sweet sweet love to his mother

      "wants".

  33. Supreme Court by hhawk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Let's just remember that the Supreme Court sided with Sony on the famous Betamax case that allowed VCRs/VRTs in the first place.

    Also, if there wasn't some type of DRM here they wouldn't have gotten certified.

    But if they hadn't granted some type of certification they would have run afoul of the Betamax ruling...

    --
    http://www.hawknest.com/
  34. Tag one on by ryane67 · · Score: 1

    Tag one on for the good guys... I just about shit my pants when i saw the headline!

    --
    ?SYNTAX ERROR IN LINE 42
  35. Service by xombo · · Score: 1

    Why doesn't someone hook up analog cable to a bunch of these new Interet-aware Tivos and rent out the "friends" list for a monthly fee online. Each person gets a time share of when they want to watch a show and the machine will record it for them and broadcast it on the internet at their convenience. For $25 a month I'd like to watch all the shows I would otherwise miss.

    1. Re:Service by pyro101 · · Score: 0

      Last I remember that was the point of getting a Tivo so you wouldn't miss shows. And if you are already paying for Tivo (you need to to be his "friend") then couldn't you just record all the shows you would otherwise miss? And that would cost less then $25 a month.

    2. Re:Service by xombo · · Score: 1

      Right, but this way I wouldn't also have to pay for cable and a box.

  36. Downloading 18 Gigabytes..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Is there even ONE NFL game worth the bandwidth?

    1. Re:Downloading 18 Gigabytes..... by niteice · · Score: 0

      The Super Bowl, but only if there's another "wardrobe malfunction".

      --
      ROMANES EUNT DOMUS
    2. Re:Downloading 18 Gigabytes..... by AnalogDiehard · · Score: 2, Funny
      Is there even ONE NFL game worth the bandwidth?

      How about the 2003 Super Bowl halftime show with the "wardrobe malfunction"?

      --
      Eternity: will that be smoking, or non-smoking? I Corinthians 6:9-10
    3. Re:Downloading 18 Gigabytes..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't remember that one. Can you share the details, please? Was it anything like the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show?

    4. Re:Downloading 18 Gigabytes..... by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      Yes, the one that you can't watch because your local station either chooses not to carry it or because the NFL believes that if you can't watch it on TV, you'll drive 80 miles and buy two $300 tickets to watch the game in person.

      FWIW, my Fox affiliate usually choses to show a 1960s movie on Sunday afternoon rather than the 4PM football game. And I'd probably never pay $600 to see a football game (the wife is a bigger fan than I am, and she wouldn't pay either).

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  37. Legality of sharing shows..? by schmiddy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've been chewing on this for a while..

    I know it's legal for me to tape a TV show from the air onto VHS, DVD, or TiVo myself. I suspect it's probably legal for me to, say, loan the VHS tape to a friend so he/she can watch it as well. And now, obviously TiVo owners can send each other episodes they recorded.

    How is this all different than downloading a TV episode of a p2p network? I think I remember hearing of people getting DMCA notices for doing exactly that.

    Anyone know where the line is in this case?

    --
    http://cltracker.net -- powerful craigslist multi-city search
    1. Re:Legality of sharing shows..? by JeffTL · · Score: 1

      The difference is that now a creature of Congress says it's okay

    2. Re:Legality of sharing shows..? by hhawk · · Score: 1

      As I point out above... You can have a VCR/VTR and share the tapes because the media companies took Sony to Court over the Betamax and lost...

      --
      http://www.hawknest.com/
  38. w00t by zatchmo · · Score: 1

    Now when is that darn TivoToGo coming? is this the start of it... please let me take that shite with me when I travel

  39. Just Wait until someone gets sued... by CygnusXII · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This will last until someone get sued, and the case is taken to the Supreme court. It works the same way with legislation. Remember, this is FCC regulation, that doesn't mean it is final. The FCC is as wishy washy as all get out. Remember these are the Same folks that just said they were going to Regulate Violence on TV. Let us not lose track of the way Regulation and FCC have worked together. How bout them Analog Airwave Rights passing to Public Access?
    Now they are going to the highest bidder, once the Broadcasting corporations decide to grudgingly let loose of them.
    Still I am glad to see they are hanging themselves out there for the little guy, for once. (at least for NOW)

    --
    My cat's picked up a Hammer. HEY! Put down that Hammer. Put Down that Hamm...THUNK!
  40. ReplayTV is the only way to go. by Dejohn · · Score: 3, Informative

    Tivo is nice, but ReplayTV is better. I use Pooli.com to share shows all the time with people all over the net. I've been using DVArchive to store shows on my PC's drive and burn to DVD for a long time. If you get the 5040 or 5080, Commercial Advance is fully operational and works great. As far as I know, none of this stuff is going to change for the ReplayTV.

    1. Re:ReplayTV is the only way to go. by SuckItTrebek · · Score: 1

      I would have to agree with parent here. I have been using Poopli for a while now and it's been wonderful. I have gotten shows that I forgot to auto record and they have been sent to me ASAP. I would go for the 5040 since it's cheaper, and just throw in hard-drive and have enough space for hours. Best investment so far. Plus it's easy enough for my parents to use. Also DVArchive is a beautiful tool. You don't even have to convert it. Just copy the show over and put on DVD.

  41. ok... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Il just share all my favorite ppv movies with all of my "friends" around the world.

  42. RTFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Read The Fucking Article.
    The Federal Communications Commission voted to certify digital protections on TiVoToGo, which is not yet available but would enable a user to record and send a digital broadcast television show to up to nine others who have been registered on that person's service and has been given a key to see it.

    How did the parent get modded up as interesting??

  43. i hope that we can use this on our comps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i hope that we can do with our (direc)tivos what replay's have been able to do for so long, which is send the stream to your computer by faking the tivo into beliving your computer is another tivo :). This would allow for archival of your shows onto DVD easily :).

  44. MythTV...... by AciDive · · Score: 2, Interesting

    has been able to do this for quite some time via it's frontend/backend style setup. all you need to do is have a friend with a mythtv frontend or backend and have one of either or both yourself and you can watch the other persons shows over the internet.

    --
    "Really, I'm not out to destroy Microsoft. That will just be a completely unintentional side effect." Linus Torvalds
    1. Re:MythTV...... by geckofiend · · Score: 1

      Except that you'd need to be on the same LAN as your friend "on the Internet" for that to work. There's nothing stopping you from echanging files and metadata but streaming from a BE to a far remote FE over a cable modem or the like would be pretty bad at normal resolutions and bitrates.

    2. Re:MythTV...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too bad you need a fucking PhD in Artificial Intelligence and 342 spare hours to get MythTV up and running. Looks like I'm sticking to Tivo.

    3. Re:MythTV...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More like two brain cells and the ability to read (Jarrods guide) or the ability to hit the "next" button (KnoppMyth).

      I love it when folks who don't have a clue sppout off.

  45. Wrong, not informative by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 1

    As you said, the FCC regulates broadcasters, but TiVo boxes are not broadcasters. The FCC is trying to unilaterally expand their jurisdiction to cover receivers as well.

    1. Re:Wrong, not informative by josecanuc · · Score: 1

      The FCC also regulates receivers because receivers can and do emit RF energy (by virtue of the tunable receiver design).

      However, they have typically cared only about the emissions levels and frequencies of receivers and not the actual functions.

  46. Free NFL Sunday Ticket by Satan's_Tool · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Now, all I have to do is find someone that lives in the area of my favorite football team. Have them record the game being broadcast on their local TV station (CBS or FOX).....shoot it over and I just saved $219 from buying the NFL Sunday Ticket.

    --
    Yes, I'm an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
  47. another article about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  48. product placements in shows by frankmu · · Score: 1

    with all the product placements in Movies and Tv shows, why bother with television ads? the more the show is shared, with proper product placement, you get more exposure of your product, to your target demographic.

    --
    Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
    1. Re:product placements in shows by iamcf13 · · Score: 1

      Must be logical BUT NOT CONSPICUOUS!!!

      Just the other day, I saw the old Jackie Chan actioner Wheels On Meals and noticed the glaring product placement of a Mitsubishi car that lasted several seconds of screen time. Other Chan films I've seen have such Mitsubishi 'commercials' in them as well which surely indicates they help fund his movies.

      I find conspicuous product placement in movies as annoying as the red, antipiracy 'cap codes' spots they stamp on bright colored frames of the film of the movie. If the studios keep this cap code nonsense up when movies are on the 'big screen', I may as well wait to watch the (cap code free) DVD release (if there is one).

  49. This only makes sence by nurb432 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Since these shows were broadcast to the public, who can record them, it only makes sence to allow sharing.

    Sharing the copy of the broadcast would be no different then both people recording them on their own.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  50. Why ask in the first place? by OWJones · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There's one big point that a lot of people seem to be missing:

    The fact that TiVo even had to ask the FCC in the first place.

    The assumption being that the FCC has some say over whether or not your hardware has the capability to send bits over the wire. Note that it's not whether or not you can send the bits over the wire, but your hardware. The first is behavior potentially regulated by the Constitution, the second is simple innovation.

    Yes, the FCC was nice. But it's crazy that TiVo had to ask in the first place. Don't forget that.

    -jdm

    1. Re:Why ask in the first place? by batkiwi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They didn't HAVE to. They did this in the same vein as getting a preliminary injunction, to avoid being sued.

      They had two options:

      -Do this, and now tv networks/etc have to sue the FCC to get the ruling changed

      -NOT do this, and have every tv network sue them once it goes live, and have it likely have to be disabled during the trial

      Which option is better for their customers, and more importantly, investors?

    2. Re:Why ask in the first place? by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 1

      No, the broadcast flag says that it's illegal to sell unapproved equipment that records flagged content. So TiVo did have to ask for permission. And being compliant with the broadcast flag doesn't protect them from other kinds of lawsuits.

    3. Re:Why ask in the first place? by OWJones · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Granted they weren't bound by law to do this. Yet. But:

      • It's frightening that current law so heavily favors the content middlemen that TiVo felt it had to petition the FCC in the first place, and
      • What the FCC says is still no guarantee whatsoever that the MPAA, NFL, etc, won't sue TiVo later and succeed, especially if the Grokster/Morpheous case goes south, or if the INDUCE Act becomes law. In that respect, this is /nothing/ like a preliminary injunction.

      The best scenario for TiVo's customers is not to have the FCC say "How high?" when the content middlemen say "Jump!"

      -jdm

  51. It doesn't mean anything... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The FCC also ruled that Bono could say "fuck" on TV. A few weeks after Ms. Jackson exposed her tit, the FCC changed its mind.

    The FCC WILL change its mind once networks start throwing their weight around. Heck, even the movie and music industries will get involved with this one. No copyright holder likes sharing without explict and paid permission.

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
  52. Quality over Quantity. by dopaz · · Score: 1

    Quality over Quantity.

  53. Odd remarks by abacsalmasi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm sure all you Tivo lovers in the US are aware that we don't get it here in Canada, but one glaring omission is starrring me right in the eyes. If I take any TV and just plug it into a wall outlet and fire it up, I'll get free TV. Granted, it's not cable, but it's free. If I Tivo'd these shows, shouldn't I be able to distribut them to anyone else who's just bought a TV and plugged it in also? How would anybody lose money from this? Wouldn't I just be propogating the show itself and getting it to more users on their behalf? A D M

    --
    My eyes, my eyes! These goggles do nothing!
    1. Re:Odd remarks by topham · · Score: 1

      If your willing to put up with some hassle you can get Tivo's working in Canada.

      I am very hopeful I can take advantage of this new feature, I would like to be able to transfer programs between my Tivo, my parents and my girlfriend.

    2. Re:Odd remarks by EmagGeek · · Score: 1

      I'd just like to point out that nothing is "free." You pay for it one way or another, even if you don't get a bill for it.

      In general, however, I am curious how this actually happened. The government has typically played every card that the RIAA/MPAA has told them to, so I'm very surprised that the FCC made this ruling.

      The only logic that I can think of is that this falls somehow under fair use. It is perfectly okay to tape a show off of TV and give it to your friends or relatives to watch. It is not, however, okay to tape a show off the air and then publicly redistribute it. Any lawyers care to chime in?

    3. Re:Odd remarks by jgabby · · Score: 1

      From reading all the documents associated with the Tivo application, it looks like the FCC got annoyed with the MPAA asking for more and more each time it comes back. The broadcast flag ruling said it was to prevent only "indiscriminate mass internet redistribution."

      The MPAA wanted Tivo rejected because it did not include controls to keep the content proximate to the home, preventing even discriminate internet redistribution. The FCC said "Wait a second...that's not what the broadcast flag is about. Shut up."

  54. Today is today and tomorrow is tomorrow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When a decision is made that favour our aims, then we can express approval. When a decision is made that denigrates our aims, we should isapprove and express our disapproval. This is not "hate". This is free speech. Think of it as democracy in action.

    That said, "Only in an election year will they toss the geeks a bone."

  55. One last problem.... by Powertrip · · Score: 3, Insightful
    ...We just have to find something worthwhile to record...

    Summertime TV stinks, especially without TechTv :)

  56. DirecTV Tivo by BlindMellon · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not sure, but figure my Series 2 Tivo for direcTV is in the cold on this one. When I got word that Tivo was releasing the former "add on" network functions, I learned that my Tivo did not have the USB ports activated, and neither DirecTV nor Tivo had any word on plans to release "firmware" to activate them.

    DirecTV Tivo with 2 tuners rocks, but this might be the final straw to get me back on cable.

    1. Re:DirecTV Tivo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      If the only reason DirecTV hasn't enabled the Home Media Option on their Series 2 DirecTivos is that they were too afraid of RIAA lawsuits, perhaps this FCC ruling is all they needed to hear to make them feel comfortable enabling it.

      I'm sure that's it.

      But just to be safe, I won't literally hold my breath waiting for them to announce this.

  57. Sorry to be a pessimist... by Mike+deVice · · Score: 1

    but this was a dead duck even before the FCC's blessing. At least that's how it looks to me. This thing is DRM encumbered to the point of major inconvenience for consumers. It's just another great feature that got butchered by DRM.

  58. What's wrong with distributing TV shows? by FusionDragon2099 · · Score: 0

    TV shows are broadly distributed as it as, so I don't see the harm in spreading them a small bit farther. The worst that can happen is that the shows are sent to someone who wouldn't normally be able to access them (like someone whe *gasp* has only two or three channels), and even then there isn't too much damage.

  59. shhhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shhhhhh......Don't tell Orin Hatch

  60. Holy Shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Not reading the article is insightful???

    READ THE ARTICLE, ASSFUCK. IT TELLS YOU THE LIMITATIONS.

    Stupidity is the root of all evil.

    No shit, huh?

    Yours or the mods?
  61. Nielsen Ratings by bjb · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Lets try this approach: Sharing is fine. As long as the commercials and station calls are retained (i.e. ads for the station, or those little transparent logos in the bottom right corner) then I don't see why there should be much of a problem. I mean, if the broadcast of the show is effectively for free to the consumer's set (ad-revenue supported) then as long as the station IDs and commercials stay, whats the difference?

    The only thing that I can see being a serious issue is that of Nielsen ratings. If there is the chance that people are going to watch these shows after the fact and as such cannot be caught by the Nielsen rating system, then would this hurt the broadcaster?

    Just a thought...

    --
    Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves a bad impression on her mind...
    1. Re:Nielsen Ratings by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only thing that I can see being a serious issue is that of Nielsen ratings. If there is the chance that people are going to watch these shows after the fact and as such cannot be caught by the Nielsen rating system, then would this hurt the broadcaster?

      Well, my personal opinion is that Nielsen ratings are garbage anyway. Tivo's anonymous usage statistics are far more accurate then anything that the Nielson folks ever put together.

    2. Re:Nielsen Ratings by dodongo · · Score: 1

      The previous reply is correct; Nielsens are notoriously inaccurate. The Arbitrons (for radio) are the same thing. Gotta love working in radio. You figure out how to make someone who listens to your station 40 minutes a day count more. Serioulsy. Four ten-minute blocks could count for as many as four quarter-hours. One forty minute block could overlap as few as two quarter-hours.

      Thus the idea of the "listening opportunity" is born.

      Pure statistical bullshit if you ask me.

      In the same way, Nielsens are generally pretty worthless, aside from their use as a comparative measure against other programming in the same time block.

      What I can't believe is that there would be one program, say at 8 PM Tuesday, that would suffer a serious, statistically significant hit from TiVO, and the other programs' viewership numbers would remain the same. That's really the only way the Nielsens would get clusterfsck'd by this, far as I can tell.

  62. Will ReplayTV get this feature back? by jbarr · · Score: 1

    As part of a settlement, ReplayTV removed this feature from its current 55xx series boxes. I wonder if they will be able to put it back? My ReplayTV model 5040 has always had this feature, but admittedly, I have never actually used it...

    --
    My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
  63. Sets a good precedent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is one of those rare moments where sharing digital files has been deemed ok. It's little steps like these that will help a good legal team (someday) put an end to this digital prohibition era.

  64. What am I missing? by jbarr · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't see how this will really work. All the NFL would have to do is enable the broadcast flag, and TiVo, (I'm assuming they would be compliant) wouldn't allow transfer because of the Broadcast Flag. The industry would simply say, "Sure, implement all the sharing technology you want...as long as it's Broadcast Flag aware."

    --
    My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
    1. Re:What am I missing? by jgabby · · Score: 2, Informative

      By applying with the FCC, Tivo has gotten permission so that even when the broadcast flag is enabled, broadcast content can be transferred between all Tivos associated with the same account (up to 10). And the spectacular thing is that Tivo network can even be across the internet.

      But everyone has to be aware that the sharing can only happen between Tivos connected to the same account through a credit card. Unless you plan to pay for your friends Tivo subscriptions, you still can't transfer content to their Tivos.

  65. Want to be my friend? by FirstTimeCaller · · Score: 1

    DRM will keep your shared programming to a max of 9 good friends.

    So I wonder what will prevent people from auctioning off their "friendship" on eBay? Yes, you can be my friend for an opening bid of only one dollar... did I mention that I have the entire collection of the Simpsons episodes? (Feel free to substitute some other show in this example with one of greater rarity but narrower appeal).

    --
    Wanted: witty unique signature. Must be willing to relocate.
  66. The latest Tivo information at..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://tivoblog.com