Slashdot Mirror
TiVo-like Application for XM Radio Under Fire
Strudelkugel writes "USA Today reports: 'Catching Blondie's reunion tour broadcast at 4 in the morning wasn't an option for XM satellite radio subscriber and single father Scott MacLean. "I was missing concerts that were being broadcasted when I was asleep or out," he said. So the 35-year-old computer programmer from Ottawa, Ontario, wrote a piece of software that let him record the show directly onto his PC hard drive while he snoozed.' As expected, the lawyers are coming out. Seems like a good idea, though. This capability might actually entice me to get an XM radio."
It also looks like Slashdot is a little behind on this news, it's been discussed since Tuesday on the XM developer's forum http://www.xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=27670.
One interesting post by the developer indicates that he has purged purchaser's personal information from his database:
As there has been some concern about contact information held by me, I have changed my database so that the only information stored is the issued key number. Email addresses and any other identifying information about purchasers is discarded immediately after the credit card validation process has completed.
The key number is derived from a one-way hash using your radio ID and some other internal information. It will work only with your radio, however no information (including the radio ID) can be derived from it.
Why Wouldn't XM radio love this feature... think about how many people will sign up with hopes to record. XM IS NOT TRYING TO SHUT THIS GUY DOWN... they sent the letter under direction of the RIAA. QUOTE FROM XMFAN.COM: "$20 says XM doesn't give a sh*t. They have to put on the corporate defensive smiley, however. It's the RIAA that would be muscling this. XM isn't gonna fight the RIAA... 70 channels of XM's content depend on them. " Deep down they love the idea, and want people to spend the subscription fee to have XM Radio. But due to fears of the RIAA (on which they rely on A LOT of their programming) and the hell they've already been through from the NAB, they have to remain on their side. If they fought the RIAA, the RIAA would pull their licensing of the music that XM Plays (and they control a LOT of music!), so XM really doesn't have a choice but to "pretend" to be against this device. From a business standpoint, it's great for getting in new subscribers.