Why Microsoft Hates Blu-ray

An anonymous reader writes "The private feud just became public. Apparently, Gates yelled at Sony's CEO because the new copy protection Blu-ray has adopted would prevent players from streaming content to the Xbox 360. Since the PS3 will have Blu-ray support but the Xbox 360 only has a plain DVD drive, this means PS3 will be the only console that can play HD movies. Also, Paramount just announced support for Blu-ray and Warner Brothers may also jump ship. Will VHS vs. Betamax turn out differently this time?"

Comments

Re:DRM, DRM, DRM.

[bombadier_beetle]

I disagree. One good use of it is libraries that lend audiobooks - several of them let you download audiobooks with DRM that expires the file after the two-week lending period. Not only is that entirely legitimate, it's efficient.

Generally speaking, it's not impossible to imagine a DRM system that justly protects the IP rights of an artist/publisher/author's content. The problem is that publishers, not consumers, are the ones behind such systems, and as such the systems aren't designed to be fair - they're designed to garner maximum advantage for the publisher.

What we need is a neutral third party to create and administer DRM that protects both the owner's intellectual property and the consumer's right to fair use. Unfortunately, no such third party exists, so long as the RIAAs, MPAAs and BSAs have armies of lobbyists while the consumers, as a group, do not.