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Welcome to the Future of DRM Media
MrFancyPants writes "'DRM, digital rights management, is quite possibly the holy grail of the music and movie industry, allowing them to control exactly how DRM protected content is used, distributed and above all can be tracked right down to the individual end user.' Hardware Analysis reports on a horror story of someone picking up a DVD recently and having to go through an agonizing process of installing DRM-enabled applications to even get it to play on his computer. If this is what the future holds, you'd better think twice about buying DVDs and other media, as you're basically at the mercy of the producer."
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/june01/iannella/06iannell a.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_managCoralized link of the DRM'ed T2 Extreme DVD
Quick summary for all those too lazy to read the article:
Content needed WMP9 with InterActual Player, which required a license, which could only be retrieved if you connected from US or Canada. And, the content could only be played for 5 days. Author concludes "Shame on you Artisan Home Entertainment Inc. and may this serve as a prime example of DRM at its worst."
Gan Family Homepage
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken - Tyler Durden
The buyer already owned a regular copy of the film. He bought this version because it had a HD format copy of the film in WMV9 format, but this version was DRM'ed.
If he DVD Shrink'ed the film, that would defeat the purpose of buying the better quality HD version.
You're still supporting Blockbuster's business model.
1. Editing or forcing producers to make Blockbuster-friendly versions of films.
2. Reinforcing the encrypted DVD business model...Blockbuster still pays for the rental DVDs, MPAA keeps producing them.
3. Reinforcing Hollywood's trend of making Bruckheimer-esque crapulescant action films with recycled plots and oneliners.
So even if I could condone a campaign of blatant copyright infringement, I would still oppose your behaviour as it reinforces existing business models which produce CRAP.
John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do?"
We just bought a copy of Shanghai Noon. The thing has somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes of previews on it that can't be skipped. What fun.
http://angel.merseine.nu - Stuff for the poet, diva, geek, romantic and angel in all of us.
Not strictly true, as I've returned CD's with the reason "Its Crap" and have been given a refund.
Again, with software you cant see the license until to attempt to install the software. If you dont agree with the EULA you cant install, so you are quite within your rights to return for this reason.
All depends how much you are willing to brazen it out and escalate if till monkey doesnt agree
"Synergies are basically awesome, and they're even better when you leverage them." Tycho, PA 14/2/7
Or, return the "defective" one in exchange for a new un-opened one, then return the un-opened box for a full refund.
When I had to return a DVD that was cracked, the clerk at Best Buy cut open the one they were giving me probably to prevent this very thing.
You might be able to make a case for deceptive advertising where they don't clearly disclose the DRM. Consumers are accustomed to DVD's that can play without any restrictions. By greatly restricting what the consumer is getting without clearly disclosing these restrictions, the media companies' omissions are materially deceptive. Actually, if enough people complain to their state's attorney's general, we might be able to at least get some sort of clear warnings on the package.
CDex can rip both of those CDs out of the box.
*snickers* DRM...
It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
- E. Debs
If the commercial says "Buy the movie now" but the packaging says you are only licensing the movie, isn't this called false advertising?
Do the commercials say "Buy the movie now", though? Offhand, it seems to me that home video commercials tend to use phrases like "Available now on DVD", or "Bring the movie home for Christmas", neatly avoiding the issue of ownership vs. licensing.
There was a big legal battle about who owned the rights, and eventually the new studio was allowed to remake it (as Never Say Never Again) though without the regular James Bond theme music and credits.
But all the legal wrangling does help to prove your point: Copyright is a monopoly.