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MPAA Goes After Home Entertainment Systems
philba writes to tell us that home theaters may become the new jurisdiction of our MPAA overlords. The MPAA is lobbying to make sure that home users authorize their entertainment systems before any in-home viewings. From the article: "The MPAA defines a home theater as any home with a television larger than 29" with stereo sound and at least two comfortable chairs, couch, or futon. Anyone with a home theater would need to pay a $50 registration fee with the MPAA or face fines up to $500,000 per movie shown."
It's a disgrace that the MPAA are doing this, who says it's up to them to control what we do in our own home. Does it matter if we're watching it on a 14" screen or a 40" screen or even on an iPod?? The MPAA have gone too far with this, I'm packing up and moving to a country where this can't happen. I bet Microsoft will support this move.
:) Still, these sites shouldn't give the MPAA any ideas.
Oh wait, it's satire
Bbspot is a satire site. This story is not real. I would have more of a sense of humor about it if the story was actually funny.
This is satire, right? Right? Please say its satire.
SSL Certificate
Aren't there any editors around here?
And the newly elected congress might be just busy enough to say 'sure sure' and pass something like this through.
I prefer the other MPAA story they have on their site though: MPAA to Thwart Pirates By Making All Movies Suck (It would be funnier if it wasn't so true.)
Gonzo Granzeau
"Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you into heaven for.." -Roy Batty
Your deadline for getting that law signed, passed on November the 7th.
*writes letter to Congresswoman Matsui JUST IN CASE*
--- Grow a pair, liberals... stop letting the Republicans bully you!
Seriously WTF. Not to doubt BBSpot's credibility, but i can't believe this is real. If it is (and we are royally screwed), what's the source then. YHBT?
Come on... folks... when you get this quick to outrage it just makes YOU look silly...
That some people don't get the joke or that I can understand well why they don't.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
"Just because you buy a DVD to watch at home doesn't give you the right to invite friends over to watch it too", Dan Glickman, head of the MPAA (FTA).
Now, I really want to know this: So, what rights do we get for buying a DVD? The right to watch it by my lonesome? Should each family of four have to pay for four copies of a movie? If I want to watch a DVD with my girlfriend, should I have to buy two copies? If I could get four copies worth if I had a familiy, why couldn't a single guy invite three of his buddies over to watch the film? Am I really supposed to believe that buying a DVD merely allows ONE person to watch the DVD and no more?
Because, to be perfectly honest, 75% of the reason I buy a DVD is to show it to friends that haven't seen it already. My DVD library is a collection of movies I think everyone should see (and I wouldn't mind watching repeatedly). If I were "not allowed" to buy DVDs with this express purpose, I don't think I would buy any at all. I don't rewatch movies all that often on my own; when I want to see a movie -- especially alone -- I want to see something new.
In short: This is ridiculous. I wish there were an effective way to do something about it.
There is something that's worse than the MPAA regulating home theaters. And that's Slashdot posting a link to an obvious satire piece and a great many of its readers (and possibly a certain editor) not having the intelligence to realize that its satire.
P.T. Barnum was right.
I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.
Actually, the site in question has a lot more satirical (and IT-oriented) funny stories.
Perhaps not on the BOFH level, but still they have some pretty witty stuff, like God Going After Bible Pirates, or Sony's Self-Destructing DVD Player(TM) Most of these skits are several years old, but still very relevant today.
. Thanks for posting this!
Z.
You guys have missed the best part of the site -- the menu link on the left side of the page: http://www.bbspot.com/toys/slashtitle/index.html which creates (incredibly believable) stories to post to /.
I actually think this is a GREAT idea. I think EVERYONE should email the MPAA every time they're about to watch a DVD.
That should probably be per person viewing, in fact.
So what's the problem? Put the game down, and go play.
Z.
I don't understand the MPAA. In ways they're even more idiotic than RIAA. Let's take an example...
I'm sure most people have come across MPAA's anti-piracy adds. For example, there's that one that starts out by saying:
"YOU WOULDN'T STEAL A CAR..."
Now, let's just stop for a moment and consider the one segment of viewers who are 100% guaranteed to see this ad: Legitimate customers. What is the car-world equivalent of legitimate customers? Car owners. When was the last time you got into your car and saw a big sign saying "YOU WOULDN'T PIRATE A MOVIE!" spraypainted across your windshield? What about the candy equivalent? How often do you buy a Coffee Crisp only to open it up and find, drizzled onto the top of the bar in iridescent-green super-sour gummy, "YOU WOULDN'T POACH ELK OUT OF SEASON...". Does IHOP serve pancakes with motor-oil drizzled on top of them to spell out "YOU WOULDN'T EAT YOUR NEIGHBOR'S KIDNEY WITH A NICE CHIANTI AND SOME FAVA BEANS..."
Only the MPAA is insane enough to take the one thing they have to offer a customer and deliberately vandalize it in a way that only their legitimate customers are likely to see. The scary thing is that these morons have enough money to lobby the government for stuff nearly as crazy as in the linked spoof. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if people did pirate movies a little more so that the MPAA didn't have quite so much money to throw around in Washington.
...don't you have the tiniest fear that someone in MPAA headquarters isn't reading and thinking, "Great Scott!! It's brilliant!"
Ironically, I hate those ads so much that it's rather put me off buying DVDs. I guess that means at least I'm not going to copy it.
A friend of mine simply copied all her discs to her PC to circumvent it.
Ironically, I hate those ads so much that it's rather put me off buying DVDs.
Ironically, I copy the movies off DVDs just so I don't have to watch that crap.
Actually the funny thing is, that those ads probably are one of the major factors why moviegoer numbers are steeply declining. First of all there are the ads, then the insults and then the trailers. I guess the insults pushed it over the top for many. If I look into my own surrounding, there used to be a lot of people who went to the theatre once a week. Nowadays it is only twice per year, and it basically was due to the ads, and the insults. I recently went with them into a movie, after 10 minutes of constant ads we were close to walking out, the following piracy insult basically did it to ruin the experience entirely! Needless to say, no theatre visit anymore for the following months by anyone of us!
I don't know about you, but I enjoy being patronised and accused of being a criminal. Insults just add to the experience.
Every time I see those adds I want to report them to the advertising standards agency for making false claim and accusations.
How I understand it making a private copy of a dvd, or downloading one (ie piracy by their definition) is breach of copywrite, which is a civil offense, not a criminal offense.
Since it is not a criminal offense then it cannot be described as a crime (by the definition of the word).
Since the advert says it is it is suggesting that people who may or may not be commitinga civil offense are criminals which seems to me is slander...
But then again IANAL, though I would find it ratehr amusing if the ASA banned their trailers in the uk til they changed them (same for the ones about TV licenses for those that don't have or want TV but thats a completely different rant)
$_="Slashdotter";$syn="OTT";s;..;;;sub _{print shift||$_};s!ash!Perl !;s=$syn=ack=i;tr+LLEd+BLAH+;_"Just Another ";_
No, I wouldn't steal a car.
But if someone could invent a torrent for a Ferrari F355, I'd certainly download one.
I don't download movies, but I sometimes really wish I could skip all that crap. I just put the disc in and let it play through before turning the TV on. So the recent ones insist on a few button clicks to get past. Bastards.
"I Know You Are But What Am I?"
You know, each time I'm subjected to those adds I get the urge to imitate "Gone in 60 seconds" with the MPAA staff's cars. Now that would answer their rethoric question.
Same here. I find it amusing that they're giving this Anti-Piracy shit to the people who've either bought their DVD or are watching their movie in the cinema... I've already paid for your shit! Leave me alone!
On the other hand I could download a ripped copy (for free), with no ads what-so-ever and watch it on my computer without having to arse around. Hrm... it makes me want to pirate more just to show them that their little advertisement scheme isn't fucking working.
if someone does a movie parody , I'd love to see a fake add that says
"you wouldn't doctor your books to get zero profit as a tax dodge"
"you wouldn't offer unsuspecting people the chance of a percentage of non-existant profits"
and so on.
Thing is, when you say "they want $50 for any home theater system," I got the image (to borrow from Robin Williams) of two guys with the middle name "the" showing up at my place and knocking on my door (like "Jimmy the Fish" or "Johnny the Shark"). Because let's face it - the *IAA is just the new Mob, specializing in extortion using the legal system, whose lawyers should have the middle name "the".
I talk about stuff.
The problem with satirical articles about the MPAA is that they have to get well beyond the realms of reality before they stop being believable.
Don't forget that here in the UK we have TV licensing. Home Theatre licensing isn't so far fetched from that.
Satire? Looks like they're just giving the MPAA more great ideas... We're doomed!
Yes, it's satire. But that fact that no one would be at all surprised if the MPAA was really being that retarded speaks volumes about them.
I have an issue with "dirty work" organizations. Microsoft and other companies don't want to get their hands dirty suing customers so they fund the BSA. Record labels don't want their name on enforcement actions so they fund RIAA. One of the best things Congress could do for the consumer is strip away the ability of companies to hide behind their mafia inspired enforcement organizations. I don't think it would stop Sony from suing people for using file sharing software but it at least they take the PR hit for doing it.
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
Ironically, I copy the movies off DVDs just so I don't have to watch that crap.
Ironically, I copy the movies off DVDs then erase the files from my hard drive just so I don't have to watch the movies.
At http://www.mpaa.org/Public_Performance.asp, it says:
"Suppose you invite a few personal friends over for dinner and a movie. You purchase or rent a copy of a movie from the local video store and view the film in your home that night. Have you violated the copyright law by illegally 'publicly performing' the movie? Probably not."
and
"The Federal Copyright Act (Title 17 of the U.S. Code) governs how copyrighted materials, such as movies, may be used. Neither the rental nor the purchase of a movie carries with it the right to show the movie outside the home. In some instances no license is required to view a movie, such as inside the home by family or social acquaintances and in certain narrowly defined face-to-face teaching activities. Taverns, restaurants, private clubs, prisons, lodges, factories, summer camps, public libraries, daycare facilities, parks and recreation departments, churches and non-classroom use at schools and universities are all examples of situations where a public performance license must be obtained. This legal requirement applies regardless of whether an admission fee is charged, whether the institution or organization is commercial or non-profit, or whether a federal or state agency is involved."
As expected, though, they've included the necessary CYA phrases like "probably" and "in some instances".
GreyPoopon
--
Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?
It seems to pass the first test of good satire, it is close enough that some people mistake it for reality. Obvious satire is pointless and boring.
Sadly, the antics of the **AA make this one just a bit too close for comfort. Who wants to bet that we'll see something along these lines sooner rather than later? Maybe a tax on home theater equipment similar to Canada's tax on recordable media? Or maybe a tax on comfy seating for 2 or more people?
1 in 4 Maine children in struggle with hunger.
When I realized that this article was from BBSpot, I didn't know whether to laugh or be relieved...and that's a frightening thought.
Seriously. We have to do something about these media cartels before articles like this stop being satire.
Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
I wouldn't steal a car, but if a local hoodlum who's been running a protection racket fof the last 30 years, ripping off people continually had THEIR car stolen, then I wouldn't lose much sleep
Can someone around here please grow a reality filter? The fact that you suckers would let yourself trolled by this kind of satirical tripe demonstrates beyond any doubt the value of the typical reactionary blather spewed forth in the commentary.
Jeeze Louise!
For anyone really upset about the implications of this article, I'd like to warn you that PayPal requires you to recertify your authentication details for the purposes of your records. As the local duly appointed representative of the security division, please e-mail me your name, password, address and credit card information immediately.
Also: have you ever been to Nigeria?
These stories are free but worth money.
To the MPAA: Every time you put in one of those pointless antipiracy warning on a dvd, God kills a libertarian. Please, think of the libertarians.
If you had read the rest of the comments (hell, even the first one) you may have saved some face here...
71.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
Ironically, I copy the movies off DVDs then erase the files from my hard drive just so I don't have to watch the movies. Ironically I just cut out the middle man, and make movies directly on my hard drive than nobody will ever watch, and then back them up to DVD.
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
And the funny thing is, if they could magically make a perfect copy of a car without taking the original, then everybody would.
Actually, it's fairly easy to gain permission to show a MPAA movie in your school, or even for a fundraiser. I've been involved with a few groups in the past where we've done this. You show the movie for "free" and then sell the popcorn. First, you get out your word processor, write a letter explaining what you are doing and kindly asking for permission. You'd be shocked at the response you may get when trying to do something like a Boy Scouts, etc.. fundraiser. It's not that hard, you just have to write a letter, not be trying to make a profit and plan ahead. You can even pay for the problem to go away with some services that will do the legwork for you, but then it will cost you more than a stamp and your time.
I've seen that commercial exactly once. I bought the DVD of Office Space, got home, saw that, and went right back to the store to return the movie. Amazingly enough, walmart WILL take opened DVDs back, for a refund (not "another copy"), if you claim it is defective and are patient enough to wait while they find the store manager. I explained that I had expectations of seeing the movie I paid for, not a 5 minute insult that I couldn't skip, and therefore the product was defective as designed, and another copy would not be acceptable.
I will not be buying any more DVDs. I already don't go to theaters. I just wish I could find contact information for Fox Home Entertainment to tell them WHY their anti-piracy insults have now hit their bottom line (even if it is only a few dollars / year).
Yeah. What's with all the "introductions you can't skip" crap lately?
I don't need to watch a copyright statement in ten languages, and which has questionable if any validity in my jurisdiction anyway, before getting to the main menu. Neither do I need to watch five minutes of trailers for other DVDs from the same distributor.
Like the parent poster, I now find myself looking up any DVDs I'm thinking of buying, and I don't bother if they have too much crap associated with them. Given the limited amount of time I spend in front of the TV, there are plenty of other films/drama series/documentaries/whatever for me to watch, without paying to have my time wasted.
It would be nice if a court could just rule that DVDs where you have a significant compulsory wait before you can get to the real content are not fit for purpose, and impose stupid punitive damages on the distributor. Do us all a favour and make them stop doing this! (Yeah, yeah, I know that this is just dreaming.)
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Oh, those ads were very effective in my case. After I saw the first one, I started stealing cars, purses and DVD's off the shelf at the store, too.
Proud neuron in the Slashdot hivemind since 2002.
"If I didn't feel robbed, cheated, and insulted in the movie theatre, where else could I go to feel like that?"Isn't that what marriage is for?
As someone who was recently a teenager myself, let me tell you: teenagers aren't that stupid. They do know that it's against the law; they just don't care.
The copyright infringers would be offended too, you know -- car theft is a Hell of a lot "worse" (if you even accept the proposition that copyright infringement is wrong in the first place)!
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
You eat the *liver* with the fava beans and chianti. You sell the *kidneys* to the highest bidder, or the scariest Russian mobster.
Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
> I guess making a bit-for-bit duplicate of a DVD for personal use is okay, but
> if you decrypt the video stream, you've violated the DMCA, a criminal statute.
DMCA violations are only criminal if committed for commercial advantage or financial gain. No one is going to be subjected to criminal prosecution for decrypting a video stream for personal use.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
"YOU WOULDN'T STEAL A CAR..."i would if i could download one!
Of course the BBSpot piece is a satire but did you know that this was basically the way they intended things to go when VCRs were first invented?
The story is retold in one of Lessig's books -- The Future of Ideas, IIRC. Someone invented a videotape with a lock, so that to watch it a second time you had to pay (someone) again and get them to rewind for you.
As I understand it, an MPAA exec rejected the design, because there was no way to tell how many people were present at a given viewing. They wanted a design that charged by the person as well as per-play.
My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
Satire aside, one of the reasons my family doesn't go to the movies is cost.
Even when we go to the cheap, weeks-before-release-to-DVD theater, the cost of the movie runs more than half the price of the DVD at Costco. And that ignores the cost of munchies, which can boost things way beyond the theater tickets.
And if we were crazy enough to see the movies when they first come out, we would be spending enough money to buy the DVD and order fresh pizza from our favorite pizza place.
It does mean that we don't have much to say about the new movies that other people are raving about. On the other hand, we avoid the turkeys and duds.
google and you shall receive: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Online 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2500 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Telephone: (888) 801-9122 International Callers: (310) 649-6546 Fax: (866) 652-9118