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DSL Gateways to Fight Piracy by Marking Video
Stony Stevenson wrote with an article about home gateway devices being set up to identify video pirates. The article reads: "Home gateway manufacturer Thomson SA plans to incorporate video watermarking technology into future set-top boxes and other video devices. The watermarks, unique to each device, will make it possible for investigators to identify the source of pirated videos. By letting consumers know the watermarks are there, even if they can't see them, Thomson hopes to discourage piracy without putting up obstacles to activities widely considered fair use, such as copying video for use on another device in the home or while traveling to work."
Why is piracy so staunchly defended in the tech community? I know rationalizations like fair use are quoted but the truth is people want free movies and music. The piracy on this scale and technology are a recent thing. I know it was the stone age but when I was growing up people saved up for a record album, yes I mean vinyl records. If they couldn't aford it they just listened to the radio. There's nothing in the Constitution about free exchange of copyrighted material, if I record a song you don't own it I do. I know this is a troll post because it's not bashing copyright holders but at the core this is about people wanting to avoid paying for music and movies.
IP theft isn't going to stop, and all this will do is cause the mfg's product to become the hardware to avoid.
I strongly suspect this is merely a test baloon to see how roundly the idea is panned.
Once Thompson realizes that such a 'feature' is going to deal a death blow to their sales, they will shelve this nonsense and accept potential lawsuits as a cost of doing business.
This is fair in a way.
The RIAA et al have a legit bitch about people stealing their product.
The problem is that the media cartels have zero cred with the general public due to crap like the original $16/cd pricing that they promised (25 years ago)would come down 'in a few months,' and asshats like Garth Brooks trying to claim royalties from used cd sales, and the industry's steadfast refusal to stop clinging to 'cost of piracy' figures that everyone knows are utter bullshit.
They also have a long history of abuse of the artists they now claim to protect, as well as a pattern of bribery and corruption.
They have become a lightening rod for irritation and disgust at money-grubbing, out of touch, repressive overlords - whether or not that mantle is truly deserved.
Because there is so much deeply entrenched animosity against them, I find it difficult to believe that they will ever make a dent in piracy via a tech solution.
Perhaps they've realized this and have instead chosen a path of social engineering.
Too bad they chosen fud to implement it instead of making an honest effort to mend fences with their customer base.