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Playstation 3 Video DRM Only Allows One Download
Nom du Keyboard points out an Ars Technica report that the Sony Video Store on the Playstation Network is running some rather restrictive DRM. When purchasing movies, users are allowed just one download — even if they delete the movie to make space and want to download it again on the same machine. A Sony representative told Ars that users could be issued an extra download as a "one-time courtesy" with help from customer support. Quoting:
"When we're discussing a system that seems to release new hardware configurations every few months and a company that actively encourages you to swap hard drives yourself, it appears users are going to run into problems if they ever decide they want to switch out their hard drive or even upgrade into a larger system; the information on the back-up utility makes it clear that video content can't be moved over to new system, although new hard drives should be safe. Sony claims that the PS3 is operating on a 10-year timeline: is one extra download, which you need to contact customer service to apply for, good enough for the next decade?"
"Please, sir, can I have some more?"
It's never just a game when you're winning. - George Carlin
This is why I keep writing to Blizzard to include spelling quizzes as part of quests. Oddly, they continue to ignore this very reasonable suggestion.
And even then, with Sony's track record for updates toasting the system and requiring the drive be formatted, forget it. (They did it again with 2.42, but that never made Slashdot.) There's just no way I'm OK with one download for a PS3.
You, of course, can't backup these DRMed videos (or your DRMed save files!), so you're left with hoping that no PS3 update forces a reformat to restore functionality.
But hey, the updates are only forced if you intend to use the online components of the PS3, so if you never download anything, you won't have to worry about an update destroying your downloaded content.
Wait, I only get to say it the once?