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Classic TV for Free Download

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the companies-with-perfect-security dept.

way2trivial writes to tell us the New York Times is reporting that Warner Brothers will have over 100 classic TV shows available for free download with a 1-2 minutes of commercials per episode. From the article: "There is a catch. To use the technology, viewers will have to agree to participate in a special file-sharing network. This approach helps AOL reduce the cost of distributing-high quality video files by passing portions of the video files from one user's computer to another. AOL says that since it will control the network, it can protect users from the sorts of viruses and spyware that infect other peer-to-peer systems."

3 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Uhh... by barfy · · Score: 5, Informative

    It also brings legality into question for other distribution mechanisms, I would think. If Kontiki is legal, how would caching a bittorrent for an episode of "Lost" be any different?

    Because it is ostensibly controlled by the owner of the copyright, which means they are controlling the means and methods of distribution, which is the central power of copyright. Nothing here changes or makes the illicit distribution of "Lost" legal.

  2. Its worth mentioning... by tgd · · Score: 5, Informative

    Its worth mentioning that Warner is also the one studio that has really resisted the MPAA strong-arm tactics of treating customers as criminals. They wisely felt pricing their movie library competitively ($10 range) meant greater sales for them, and less piracy.

    They are definitely the good guys.

  3. The List by thebdj · · Score: 5, Informative

    Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
    Alice
    Babylon 5
    Beetlejuice
    Chico and the Man
    Dark Justice
    Eight is Enough
    F Troop
    The F.B.I.
    Falcon Crest
    Freakazoid
    Freddy's Nightmares
    The Fugitive
    Growing Pains
    Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
    Head of the Class
    Histeria!
    Kung Fu
    La Femme Nikita
    Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
    Maverick
    The New Adventures of Batman
    Perfect Strangers
    Pinky and the Brain
    Scarecrow and Mrs. King
    Sisters
    Spenser: For Hire
    V
    Welcome Back, Kotter
    Wonder Woman


    This is what I was able to find for a full list with more content to be added over the course of a year. There are a few shows I am glad to see, can you guess one from my sig?

    --
    "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."