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BitTorrent Video Download Store Falls Flat
seriously writes "We've all heard about BitTorrent going legit this week with legal movie and TV show downloads. Ars Technica took a look at the service to see how usable it was and ran into a few snags, including not being able to download or even open the video files on some computers. However, the ones that they did manage to open varied a lot in quality. Overall, they blame DRM: 'Without knowing whether browser compatibility and dysfunctional video files are a rare occurrence or not, it's hard to say whether BitTorrent's service is a good one overall. Our initial experiences have been disappointing and frustrating, and guess what the culprit is once again? DRM. Why the DRM failed to work on 50% of our purchases is not clear, but whatever the cause, it's simply unacceptable.'"
---Copyright infringement is both morally and legally wrong. Obviously you think Piracy is okay, because you think everything should be free.
Wrong. When I download from 'those' websites, I get more than I would have purchased (at any price): my freedom. Please do tell, you CAN shift media formats when you buy the DRM'ed WMV, right?
And whose morals are we talking about here? Mine, or your morals you'd like to force everybody to follow?
---I did, except you insist on piracy because it is "free" (without cost). When presented an alternative (technical merits aside) that doesn't involve "free" you then complain you can get it for "free", even if it is illegal (in most jurisdictions).
No, you didnt. You just did the standard religious "my morals are better than your morals so youre going to hell" type of argument.
Where can I BUY media that is the same quality and same freedom in that which I download freely? I remember vaguely what EMI said... something about us paying for their mistake or somesuch...
---People like make me sick and ruin it for those of us who want technically sound, legitimate formats that are convenient and are willing to pay for them so that we aren't infringing copyrights.
Is geographic lockout good for copyright? Is preventing time and format shifting good for copyright? Is treating the honest, paying user like a criminal good for copyright? Is including disablers and other forms of obnoxious software on what is supposed to be a media disc good for copyright?
I dont think so.
Unfortunately, I cant buy media on terms dictated by fair-use laws and precedent. Hence, I either buy the DVD or download them. I maintain my freedom, unlike those who bought HD-DVD and BluRay and other forms of anti-user control.
My rights matter more than their money.