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Blu-Ray Facing Delays Caused by DRM Squabbling
Tomo Hiratsuka writes "Disney, Warners et al, the companies behind the AACS content management system,
apparently can't get their act together to complete the standard they wish to impose on Blu-ray. The result? Pioneer has the first Blu-ray drive for PCs ready for market next month but is openly admitting the DRM issue may force it to delay." From the article: "The inability of the companies behind the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) content management system to complete their work has already caused Toshiba to put launch plans for its HD DVD player on hold. AACS is made up of a number of companies from the electronics and content industries. The group's founders include IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Disney and Warner Bros."
Maybe if Pioneer sold enough of them, there'd be such an uproar when the DRM'd players come out that they'd be rejected completely by consumers. Or, at least, it would wake up more people to the dangers of DRM.
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
Yes, I for one welcome the indecisiveness of our would-be DRM overlords.
It amusing that the greed of the big media corporations which kickstarted this whole mess to begin with, is the same exact thing that is keeping them from developing effective DRM. All the shifting alliances as all the tech companies try and lock the content providers into their DRM scheme, and all of them fight to make sure their DRM doesn't really work with anyone elses. It'll be a moot point before they get their crap together.
Ahhh, the sweet spectacle of infighting among ones enemies.
ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
If we're welcoming our new overlords, does that make us doormats?
Anyway, I wish companies would realize that DRM is not the answer to copyright infringement, there is no "answer." The best way to lessen the problem is to lessen the cost to the end user, and don't introduce new formats!
A lot of people bought DVD copies of their VHS tapes because of higher quality and longer life spans, will BlueRay be enough of an advance?
I don't get it.
Meanwhile the movie studios will continue to put out non-HD DVD's that can be cracked, ripped, and posted online. 95% of the world won't care if the movie is HD or not, they're happy with the current DVD quality. Most HDTV owners don't even make use of HDTV signals anyways, does anyone think they care about buying HD DVD's?
If it can be read, it can be copied...
Sadly, I really don't think DRM will bother the unwashed masses. Why?
-Most people have been trained to buy their information. Along the way free information is derided as just that, "free" and all it suggests.
-It will "just work."
-If the quality is good enough, they'll gladly lose what freedom is left in exchange for a prettier picture. Most have gladly done that already with iTunes. So the audio battle is over and DRM has won. Your video is next.
-Even when someone breaks it, it just won't put a big dent in the corporation's bottom line.
-The Entertainment corps get to drag the poor guy through court as an "example to all." Thereby reinforcing the mindset that information should be owned, lock, stock and barrel.
While I understand that DRM and OSS are idealogically polar opposites, there should be an OSS DRM. Then there would at least be some transparency. Not to mention a generally better system.
http://www.maxineudall.com/2010/02/should-economists-be-sued-for-malpractice.html
It's a lot of stress for them.
They just FEEL that whatever they end up with for AACS it'll be hacked and dismantled the week it's out, and are frantically trying to prevent it.
It's of course funny to see how the minuses of DRM pile on top of each other (now delaying manifacturing and entering the market), while the benefits are yet to be seen (if ever).