HD Monitor Causes DRM Issues with Netflix

Jeremiah Cornelius points us to Davis Freeberg's blog, where he discusses his "nightmare scenario" of losing access to his DRM-protected purchases by upgrading his PC monitor. "When I called them they confirmed my worst fears. In order to access the Watch Now service, I had to give Microsoft's DRM sniffing program access to all of the files on my hard drive. If the software found any non-Netflix video files, it would revoke my rights to the content and invalidate the DRM. This means that I would lose all the movies that I've purchased from Amazon's Unbox, just to troubleshoot the issue. Because my computer allows me to send an unrestricted HDTV feed to my monitor, Hollywood has decided to revoke my ability to stream 480 resolution video files from Netflix. In order to fix my problem, Netflix recommended that I downgrade to a lower res VGA setup."

Comments

Owned

[CJ145]

Yet another reason to pirate all the content you want.

Re:Owned

[packeteer]

How would that help? They wouldn't even troubleshoot on a system like Linux. He could have refused their scan and kept his freedom.

In my opinion it is your own fault if you purchase DRM content. You don't HAVE to have their content. I know you really want to because its big Hollywood movies but what is difficult to understand. Your making a choice to retain your freedom or your use of Hollywood entertainment. If you know before hand that you could be screwed over while not doing anything wrong as well as not being able to go after the content provider because they did nothing outside of their agreement who's fault is it? It's surely not theirs. You decided to play their game and to pay them for the privilege. You get burned and cry to slashdot. It's very sad that there is good content that is going to be locked in DRM away but thats just bait for suckers.

Re:Owned

[MMC Monster]

Agree.

(Unfortunately) More people should get burnt by these DRM schemes so that people will ask twice before signing up for them. As knowledgeable as we (the /. community) is, we have to get the word out to friends and family when they ask for our recommendations. It doesn't take much. When they ask about bluray or HD-DVD, just mention off the cuff the dueling standards. If they talk about downloadable content, ask them what happens when you change computers or if the service closes down. Mention that the Walmart service (backed by a company bigger than Microsoft) is closing down and the mess it leaves the customers.

We are the people with the (purchasing) power. We have the power to get rid of DRM. We just have to use it wisely.

Re:Cancelling

[Thomas M Hughes]

In this instance, it's not really Netflix's fault. Netflix has repeatedly said that they want to make their steaming feature available to more operating systems, browsers and the like. The reason they haven't is because the MPAA studios which supply the movies that Netflix's rents won't license them movies unless they use some form of DRM that they approve of. And they only approve of Microsoft's DRM, which means the only options open for Netflix are Microsoft supplied DRM movies or nothing at all.

If you want proof of this, there are videos of Netflix having a working demo of their streaming tech on OS X from back in March, but they still haven't released it for the main site, since they still haven't gotten approval on the DRM from the sudios.

If you're going to protest, your protests should be directed at the MPAA. That may involve a boycott of Netflix as well, but it definitely shouldn't stop there, nor should Netflix be the primary focus.

Re:vista only

[cjsm]

And this is the problem with most DRM schemes. They do nothing to solve the real problems of pirated media, and instead put all kinds of shackles on the people who actually pay good money for their music, movies, and software; in the process making pirated media superior to bought media.

Re:I'll bite.

[Anonymous Coward]

Umm, the issue is DRM content AND operating systems. Vista added all sorts of "features" whose only point is to restrict the way that videos can be played back and make overly restrictive digital rights restrictions easier. DRM "could" be implemented under Linux, but there is not pervasive rights restrictions throught libraries, the kernel, and the X server as there are rights restrictions in Vista through libraries, kernel, and video system. A "protected video path" type setup under Linux would simply not be very possible, and if someone tried it, the source is available so it can be circumvented trivially.

          The primary reason for free software being a good antidote to DRM is that I am voting with my wallet. Buying or staying with XP "instead" of Vista doesn't send Microsoft the message -- they may want you to get Vista, but you are still sending money Microsoft's way. OSX is also a big DRM supporter. So, by not purchasing OSX or Windows it sends the message to Apple & Microsoft that I will not spend money with DRM supporters.

Re:vista only

[networkBoy]

Ironic 'taint it matey?

Honestly though, there is little to no competition to a fully "pirate" setup.
* XBMC on old Xbox with component video cables (720p max, but that's what my LCD is :-)
* LAMP media server, exports *everything* on simple usr/pwd shares
* movies transcoded from my library
* MP3's transcoded from my library
* BBC shows and other public broadcasting shows I like

No real reason I couldn't add an RSS feed to TPB and autograb shows other than WGHB and BBC stuff (or movies etc.)
According to the **AA my copies of my music/movies are not proper and thus "pirate" etc. and it blows absolutely every other option I've tried out of the water. In theory I could add a myth back-end server and capture off the air/cable with a DVB card or a hauppage + cable box setup, but honestly there is no need.

XBMC is even better than myth in my opinion, and both of them kick the pants off of XP-MCE.
-nB

Re:vista only

[arivanov]

This should not be called DRM.

This should be called illegal restraint of trade and monopoly abuse.

It should be also dealt with accordingly.