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Spielberg Bitten by DVD Encryption

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the roll-your-eyes dept.

diodesign writes "The Guardian newspaper has reported that 5000 DVD based preview copies of Spielberg's 'Munich' sent to reviewers in the UK can't be played due to the copy protection system involved. Human error at the laboratory where the DVDs were encrypted lead to the wrong region code being set, plus the reviewers use special players from Dolby that prevent the pirating of 'screeners'. An ironic twist in the on-going battle of DRM and media vs. consumers."

16 of 453 comments (clear)

  1. He'll have to by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny

    go over to the lab and club them with his oscar.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Well obviously... by Bin_jammin · · Score: 5, Funny

    it was region encoded wrong, Munich is in Germany, not in the UK.

    1. Re:Well obviously... by shani · · Score: 5, Funny

      All of Europe is Region 2.

      We just need to convince 60 million Brits that the UK is in Europe...

  3. At least... by darthservo · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least it wasn't Jaws.

    --

    Prove it.

    1. Re:At least... by Gryle · · Score: 5, Funny

      You're gonna need a bigger DVD player...

      --
      Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not entirely sure about the universe - Einstein
  4. Re:ouch by Flammon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Spielberg Bitten by DVD Encryption

    Did it hurt?

    No, but I heard something crack.

    --
    ayottesoftware.com
  5. Re:For one that didn't RFA by tomhudson · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Guardian newspaper has reported that 5000 DVD based preview copies of Spielberg's 'Munich' sent to reviewers in the UK can't be played due to the copy protection system involved.

    Oh, well - they'll just have to download the torrent, I guess.

  6. Re:Not a Terrible Blow to Copy Protection Really.. by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not a blow? Of course not! It is the culmination of DRM technology! Now they have a DVD that is perfectly secure!

    Many heads will rest easy, tonight.

    --
    ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  7. DVD - Don't View Dis by digitaldc · · Score: 3, Funny

    In other news, the VHS tape is making a huge resurgence in the video market for its low price, high duplicability, and general ease of use.

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  8. And ricjy freeway ... by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... is obviously not in a state of humor this morning.

    --
    Infuriate left and right
  9. Re:Special players? by Orne · · Score: 4, Funny

    If only we lived in a world where they included that information in the article, and there was some sort of reference that could allow us to read that article...

    "Developed by Cinea, a subsidiary of Dolby, the players permit their owners to view encrypted DVD "screeners", but prevent the creation of pirate copies."

  10. It turned out okay by jpsowin · · Score: 3, Funny

    They just downloaded the torrent and were able to watch it.

  11. Re:Why use region coding? by Eil · · Score: 5, Funny

    If they're using specially encrypted DVDs meant to only be played back on specially-made DVD players, why are they even bothering to region code them? This just reeks of stupidity...

    Hi, I see you're new to the film industry...

  12. Munich the film = ridiculously flawed facts by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Palestinian terrorist (Black September) did infact use guns, and not walkie talkies.

    F'n Speilberg, leave your movies alone! ET phone home. :)

  13. Re:Region Code is not Copy Protection by Noehre · · Score: 5, Funny

    That, my friends, is quality ownage.

  14. Re:Not a Terrible Blow to Copy Protection Really.. by ZachPruckowski · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now, what'd be funny is if they turned to BitTorrent to get it by tomorrow.