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The Video iPod is on its Way
An iPod Speculator writes "Is Apple developing a Video iPod? Recent contracts and software releases suggest that a video enabled iPod is forthcoming. If so, what kind of features will it have? I offer some insight into why video is the next step for the iPod and how it might come about in this article."
Sure, there's other ways to copy a DVD, but nothing legal.
Oh really? So it's illegal to make a backup archive of your own DVD on a hard drive you own?
Both Apple and Microsoft are enabling copyright violations by having the ability to open VIDEO_TS folders with their included DVD players?
Everybody who rips DVD's they own to their laptop hard drive so they can get more battery life when watching their movies during a long flight is breaking the law?
Good luck trying to make that case.
Don't take this too personally, but I think there should be a "-1, Factually Incorrect" mod option.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
Oh really? So it's illegal to make a backup archive of your own DVD on a hard drive you own?
No, that's covered under fair use. But, the DMCA does make it illegal to circumvent the copy protection: "No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title." So, without decrypting the files, can you do anything with that backup? Can you copy those files back onto a DVD-R and burn them, without modification, and have a watchable DVD? I've never tried it, but my suspicion would be no.
Both Apple and Microsoft are enabling copyright violations by having the ability to open VIDEO_TS folders with their included DVD players?
No, because the files themsleves remain encrypted. You can get at the files, but, without decrypting them, can you do anything with them?
Everybody who rips DVD's they own to their laptop hard drive so they can get more battery life when watching their movies during a long flight is breaking the law?
If they've used any method of decrypting the data on the DVD to facilitate the copying or viewing, yes.
Good luck trying to make that case.
I have no interest in trying to make that case, I think it's a fucked up law. The MPAA, however, just might. The portion of the DMCA that prohibits creating or distributing software to circumvent copy protection has already been tried and held up, in the DeCSS case. They haven't, to my knowledge, sued any individuals for decrytpting DVD's, but they do have the DMCA behind them if they ever actually wanted to.
Don't take this too personally, but I think there should be a "-1, Factually Incorrect" mod option.
Trust me, I don't take anything on Slashdot personally. :-) But, in this case, I think my facts are correct. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me, and I'll have no problem admitting so if that's the case.
The full text of the DMCA is available from the EFF if you really want to actually read through it all.
Golias, it would take too long to explain how wrong you are.
As things stand right now. Apple could not make a device to grab video from a, current purchased DVD and store it to play back unless it copied the DRM with it and added some other restrictions that would have to be negotiated with each and every DVD vendor who could have rights infringed.
So, it will have to be video downloaded from iTunes or future DVDs that have a new license and DRM scheme. The device would not copy older DVDs because--there isn't enough ink to cover the legal briefs that would take.
Apple's amazing achievement with the iTunes music store was not the technology (although the payment system is pretty elegant), its overcoming all the legal hurdles.
TiVo's "ToGo" device has had a lot of troubles and they already have a "fair use" storage on a hard drive. DeCrypting from a DVD is not considered fair use because it circumnavigates a copy protection device--which was a cool legal way to get around fair use by the content providers.
Apple has to deal with a thousand, greedy stupid clones of Donald Trump. Imagine the egos and palms to be greased and fears to be overcome. Shudder. That has got to be the second toughest job in the world (the first would be staying married to Donald Trump for the duration of the "marriage").
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