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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?"
As long as they clearly mark this as a rental, I'm OK with it. As soon as they describe it as a sale, then I think they're conducting felony fraud and should be prosecuted criminally.
Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
Its news because not only is it DRM, but its poorly implemented. Steam and the 360 let you delete stuff you've bought and download it later. I can go to a friend's house, log in to my account on his xbox, and I'm able to download things I've bought.
The only reason this isn't really big news is because its something they can fix fairly easily.
I, too, was initially opposed to Steam. I can deal with it now, and can even appreciate some of its benefits. I first got a Steam account so I could keep on playing old CS and TFC many years ago. Now, on the same Steam account I play TF2, BioShock, CSS, DoDS, on a newer PC. I really like the fact that I can still download and play ALL the old Valve games I ever owned (right back to HL, Blue Shift, etc...) on any computer I have now, or will have in the future. Now THAT'S content management that doesn't jack you out of something you bought!
You, of course, can't backup these DRMed videos...
Wrong. If you're so worried about it, move the files to an external USB drive (yes, the PS3 provides the option) and backup the files off of that. It's not rocket science.
How can a first post be modded Redundant?
In this particular case, you're right, that shouldn't have been made redundant. That said, it's totally possible for a first post to be redundant. Here are a few examples:
"I just want a cell phone that only makes calls!"
"Does it run Linux?"
"Video game companies do this because you're all thieves!"
"...frickin shark!"
"George Lucas sucks."
"I hate the iPhone, so everybody else should too."
... and so on. There's a lot of repetitive noise here that doesn't become fresh just because it's in a different thread. This doesn't apply in your case, but it could a year from now when somebody carbon copies your post when another company has a policy like this.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
It would be interesting to see how thing would work if we increased the range allowed from -1 to 5, to say -10 to 50.
For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
Some are bad...SecuROM is absuively bad, and similar to what you describe.
But a lot of games with extensive add-ons have to talk to the internet a lot. If you buy WoW, you can just set up an account, add the keys, and download the entire game...This'll take a bit, even with their bittorrent interface.
Steam is basically the same thing applied to non-MMOs. You make a steam account, you attach your games to it, and anywhere you log in with that account, you can download and install your games. No more keeping up with keys or media. In a lot of ways, I think it's better than the traditional CD system, because of the whole media/keys issue, though obviously it's still inferior to pirating the game.
Still, I'd rather pay for the game, and if it's not abusive, I'm perfectly willing to do so.
ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
I think for the full weight of the law to protect copyright, an original work must be provided in such a way that the right of first sale exists and/or "fair use" is preserved.
If neither of these exists, then the "IP" will not be protected by copyright.
Does anyone want to start a political movement?