I’ve honestly lost count how many times I’ve written articles criticizing the MPAA and movie industry as a whole. Their entire thinking in general is bassakwards and completely anti-consumer. The only beneficiary is the rights owners’ pockets. Consumers on the other hand get shafted as old business models are desperately fought for in vain. But even after three separate movie studios have blacklisted Redbox and others such as Netflix with BS 28-day rental blackouts, common sense does reside in at least one — Paramount.
Paramount Home Entertainment is actually promising that they’re going to allow rental services to rent out new movie purchases the same day as they are available for actual purchase. +1 for the consumer…
You want justice? You want someone cutting through the B.S. and calling it like it really is? Of all people, ThePirateBay ISP is publicly criticizing those pointing fingers at the PirateBay and bittorent overall. The ISP in the spotlight, CB3ROB, has a vocal employee CEO by the name of Sven Olaf Kamphuis who goes on to call Disney among others in the industry “clueless idiots” (or so true). Sven also questions the legality of the so called court order the MPAA has pushed the German gov’t to slap down on CB3ROB.
All of the above will likely play out over the next couple of years in some locked up court room far from the public eye. But the basis behind the lawsuit will be as stupid as ever. Really, when will these clueless idiots realize that suing and shutting down torrent search engines does nothing and is the most bass akwards approach ever? If only they would embrace technology…
As if we needed another reason to hate the MPAA — SOC will live on, invading our homes and gadgets effectively neutering them. Now, if you’re one who doesn’t record videos via analog outputs on devices, you have nothing to worry about. But for those who do, you have plenty to worry about. From here on out, any media the MPAA feels is “too new” or valuable will have the switch flipped, rendering those analog outputs on your TV, cable, or satellite boxes completely useless, leaving you without your paid for content thanks to the new, official bill by the FCC (PDF)…
Selectable Output Control or “SOC” as it is abbreviated is nothing short of movie studios trying to nickel and dime consumers more by *digitally* breaking older TV equipment, limiting choice, and all around making our lives that more difficult. Against claims from various consumer groups, the MPAA has stepped forward claiming that everyone loves SOC and anyone who criticizes it is a liar. Hmmm. Can we see yet why this industry as a whole has such a negative image? Between repeatedly stepping on consumers’ wants with anti-consumer DRM, to bullshit policies on copying legally purchased movies, and ending up at SOC, it becomes all too apparent that studios have no idea what the hell they’re doing. They cherry on top is of course calling anyone with a voice brave enough to speak out against their monopolistic ways liars. And they wonder why no one wants to spend money on their crap….
Label me a pirate. A renegade. A lawless scum who doesn’t care about intellectual property. That’s fine. I pay for music in one way or another. I have no qualms or regrets. Here in the states, intellectual property laws and policies are becoming increasingly anti-consumer, anti-artist, and are getting tweaked more and more to benefit labels and other such “middlemen”. We’re not alone however as many other countries across the world are enacting similar laws. France for example will soon be enforcing their “three-strikes” law which gives accused file shares three chances. After being caught 3 times, it’s no more internet for you bucko. The whole evidence of infringement used by France as well as all of the other countries is that of IP addresses.
One thing we need to stress is an IP address is tied to a location and computer — not an actual human. Anyone can log into a computer, multiple people in fact, and share the same IP address. See where this defense has holes already? Though lawsuits continue around the world. Here in the states, such cat mouse games with IP addresses and copyright infringers continue on with no end in sight. While our politicians and judges paid “government” lobbyists continue to increase their fight, it seems the Danish anti-piracy group “Antipiratgruppen”, actually understands the utter worthlessness that comes from such fruitless lawsuits and is “giving up” this endless fight. The first translated public announcement states:
We have to, because it is has been announced by the state court, that it takes very strong and concrete evidence to have these people prosecuted. We have simply not been able to establish the necessary evidence…”
An overview of Danish trials shows an extremely small possibility of getting sentenced – unless the the accused confesses. Four principal state court trials last year lead to three acquittals and only a single sentence for illegal file sharing. And this sentence only came into place because
“Out of the four cases we can establish, that the courts do not sentence owners of Internet connections simply because of technical identification of IP-adresses and technical recognition of files,” they say.
In their neck of the woods, the courts actually employ common sense as well as pro-consumer tactics in realizing that a simple IP address means nothing. It isn’t a per user ID but merely an “address” to a location in which any person at any point and time can obtain.
Why can’t the U.S. follow suit? Again, our politicians are merely extensions of extremist groups such as the MPAA and RIAA — on their bankroll, doing their deeds. Forget the fact that they were elected to carry out our will. Once they get that seat in government, their own agenda and wallet takes over. ‘Tis a shame that our U.S. companies and government can’t realize that if they embraced P2P technology for good instead of trying to abolish it that their jobs would be a lot easier. And maybe, just maybe we would hate them less. (That’s a stretch…)
For those lucky Danish civilians and Danish government, I applaud you in cutting through the crap and lobbyist propaganda and actually doing your jobs by not bending and rewriting laws to benefit your wallets.
Theres nothing like a little anti-consumer, DRM loving propaganda to get you in the mood to slap a kitten and make new friends in the slammer. The latest bout of stupidity and utter ignorance comes to us from none other than the MPAA. For some time now they’ve been trying to break everyone’s DVR so that we can’t record what we watch. They claim such devices hurt sales, artists, and promote piracy — all of which are baseless claims based on fear and the never ending sense of entitlement, trying to squeeze every last penny from consumers. The latest in the plans to rape us all is yet again the same man beating the same horse. They’re on their knees begging, pleading with the FCC to allow some sort of “selective control output” which is really a fancy way of saying disabling your DVR from doing it’s intended job.
One thing we all have to recognize up front is the people that really spend the majority of their time pirating content will get around any and every new scheme companies such as the MPAA come up with while honest unaware customers will be burned by expensive DVR’s that don’t…well…record.
Moving on, one would think the MPAA, RIAA, and every other entitlement driven group of thieves would realize that if people aren’t willing to pay for something, it’s more than likely because it’s garbage. Make something people actually find value in and you’ll find people lining up to pay for said content left and right. Simply shaking a stick at them, groveling to your mommy, and breaking our toys aren’t going to help. The more the MPAA and mobs like them try to force even tighter DRM controls on us, the more consumers will turn to less legitimate sources, and the more profits will fall. Guaranteed!
The MPAA much like the RIAA is a universally hated company with policies that are so technologically retarded and outdated it is astonishing that cases are actually being tried over those issues. RealNetworks, the company who is being sued for their product RealDVD for its ability to circumnavigate the anti-consumer encryption placed on DVD’s in order to allow consumers to back up their own DVD’s has just thrown another snake into the pit by way of anti-trust allegations. Hearing such words uttered from the defendants mouths is a good thing to hear indeed as now a more or less whole new case can be opened up and pursued against the MPAA. According to RealNetworks, the MPAA “colluded to boycott RealNetworks and its attempt to let people back up their legally obtained movies”, not a light accusation at all. Hopefully common sense prevails and we can start to see some actual leeway for the consumer and their rights actually made.
All sane and normal human beings who actually have a tad bit of common sense know and already practice the art of ripping your own DVD’s for your own personal use because, well, you paid for it and it’s yours. BTFU! However, the MPAA who is thrashing about wildly and gasping for air as they die an increasingly progressive death seems to be stuck on the idea that we can’t do anything with out own property. I have to give them some credit. Instead of complaining until they’re blue in the face only to come up empty handed when it’s time to hand out suggestions, the MPAA actually had something to say. Now mind you it’s complete and utter BS and all they or their organization is worth is some 1 ply toilet paper….But I digress. On the issue of teachers and students wanting to rip DVD’s for editing purposes in the classroom, the MPAA said “No!”. Instead, they offered an “acceptable alternative” (read: videotape the TV/projector screen). Ya, because that is going to look amazing blown up on a large monitor for editing purposes. Not to mention it brings up one big problem…who the hell wants to “copy/rip” a DVD at 1x speed, and at abysmal quality at best? Great job. As usual everyone, ignore their baseless ramblings and continue ripping and copying your DVD’s as you are completely within the law. And as is now standard in any article or comment regarding the MPAA/RIAA/any copyright label actually: F the *insert loathed organization here*
On a side note, I guess this means that carrying a video recorder into a movie theater is ok now. I mean, you’re paying to see the movie just like you would to “purchase” permanently rentyour DVD’s. Not to mention, the MPAA has just shown us that recording copyrighted material is now kosher. I guess they just killed a bird with a stone and then pulled a gun on themselves….Go firgure.
We all know the RIAA is a poisonous cancer on this earth. The MPAA, the evil twin of the RIAA goes head to head with RealNetworks over their completely legal RealDVD Software. The reason for the cat fight is that the MPAA sees the circumvention of encrypted DVD’s as illegal no matter the circumstance. Apparently we all rent our movies now. The legal tussle doesn’t even mention the obvious fact that copying a DVD for personal use, just as everyone does with CD’s, isn’t something that should be legally allowed. Nor the fact that the encryption to prevent personal back ups should be illegal in and of itself as it is a violation of consumers’ rights. But like all greedy copyright corporations, the MPAA is hiding behind the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which as mentioned before, prohibits circumventing encryption software. It really is pathetic that society here in America actually sides with these people and companies. I mean honestly, do you really think you should have to buy five copies of a movie, (one for the house, one for the car, one for the bedroom…etc., etc.? No. So why is this issue still relevant?
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I’ve honestly lost count how many times I’ve written articles criticizing the MPAA and movie industry as a whole. Their entire thinking in general is bassakwards and completely anti-consumer. The only beneficiary is the rights owners’ pockets. Consumers on the other hand get shafted as old business models are desperately fought for in vain. But even after three separate movie studios have blacklisted Redbox and others such as Netflix with BS 28-day rental blackouts, common sense does reside in at least one — Paramount.
Selectable Output Control or “SOC” as it is abbreviated is nothing short of movie studios trying to nickel and dime consumers more by *digitally* breaking older TV equipment, limiting choice, and all around making our lives that more difficult. Against claims from various consumer groups, the MPAA has stepped forward claiming that everyone loves SOC and anyone who criticizes it is a liar. Hmmm. Can we see yet why this industry as a whole has such a negative image? Between repeatedly stepping on consumers’ wants with anti-consumer DRM, to bullshit policies on copying legally purchased movies, and ending up at SOC, it becomes all too apparent that studios have no idea what the hell they’re doing. They cherry on top is of course calling anyone with a voice brave enough to speak out against their monopolistic ways liars. And they wonder why no one wants to spend money on their crap….
