FCC wants to hear your voice on the MPAA's latest DRM proposal

Lee Stewart · 06-11-2008, 08:01 PM

FCC wants to hear your voice on the MPAA's latest DRM proposal

Quote:

by Richard Lawler, posted Jun 11th 2008 at 8:13PM

Last month you let us know in the comments how you felt about the MPAA's latest effort to close the analog hole -- by removing the FCC's ban on selectable output control (SOC), giving them the ability to remotely disable the analog output on your cable box -- now try telling someone who can actually do something about it. The FCC has opened the petition to public comment until June 25, and replies to comments by July 7. Currently, the MPAA is arguing that allowing SOC will actually hasten the digital transition, once it feels comfortable offering early release flicks on HD video-on-demand, people will have more incentive to upgrade their TV sets. Of course, owners of older HDTVs without HDMI connections or anyone else who'd rather use analog outs would be left in the dark, and Ars Technica notes the EFF and Home Recording Rights Coalition have already spoken out against the plan. Give the MPAA's proposal a read then let the FCC know which side of the line you fall on before it's too late.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/11/f...-drm-proposal/

Lee Stewart · 07-23-2008, 07:33 AM

Groups Seek To Block MPAA Waiver Bid

Quote:

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 7/22/2008 11:21:00 AM
Washington — Seven public-interest and consumer groups, led by consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Monday to deny the request of Hollywood Studio interests to take control of consumer TV sets and entertainment devices.

The reaction came in response to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) request to the FCC on May 9 to grant it an exemption to 2003 rules that prohibit its members’ ability to limit what consumer devices can do with copyrighted content.

According to Public Knowledge, “The MPAA said it needed the waiver so that it could offer movies to consumers while protecting copyrighted material.”

“MPAA’s petition, however, is not necessary,” the groups said in a joint statement. “Through selective output control, the waiver will give the largest motion picture production companies veto power over the connections, which are used to connect set-top boxes, receivers, high-definition televisions, home theater systems, digital video recorders and other consumer electronics devices.”

In addition to Public Knowledge, the groups joining the effort to deny the MPAA request include: Consumer Federation of America, Digital Freedom Campaign, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Media Access Project, New America Foundation and U.S. PIRG.

“This veto power will give media companies leverage to dictate which home electronics manufacturers can produce products capable of viewing their content. Through that leverage, these media companies will gain the ability to control other aspects of the devices’ design and the users’ experience. The net effect of granting the waiver is to let content owners choose which types of connections users of digital content can have in their homes and what uses those connections allow, regardless of which connections users, consumer electronics manufacturers, [multichannel video programming distributors] and the rest of the relevant market decide are best,” the joint statement reads.

A full text of the public-interest comments can be found here.

Public Knowledge said the MPAA waiver, if granted, “will give the companies the ability to allow some devices to work and others not to work. If granted, the waiver will frustrate consumer expectations regarding their home theater equipment and will give movie studios unprecedented and undesirable control over the design and use of home electronics equipment.”

As an example, they cited a new Sony announcement that it would make the new movie, “Hancock,” available sooner to owners of a Sony TV with a proprietary video connection than to the rest of the CE-owning public.

The objecting parties also said the waiver request was unnecessary to protect copyright because “the business model the industry is touting is not new, and that it has been asking for protection for digital material since 2002. Rather, copyright violations would be reduced even without the restrictions the industry is proposing,” the groups said:

“In fact, MPAA’s proposed ‘business model’ aims to bring recently released movies into consumer homes, providing a legal, convenient source of new movies for home viewing. The proliferation of online, legal purchasing of music has amply demonstrated that when content owners offer their products in a convenient, non-restricted, reasonably priced form, people will pay for it.”

The MPAA had not returned requests for comment as this was posted.

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6580584.html

electrictroy · 07-23-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

owners of older HDTVs without HDMI connections or anyone else who'd rather use analog outs [like S-video] would be left in the dark

MPAA is a bunch of _____s.

Loves2Watch · 07-23-2008, 11:38 AM

With all of the draconian lock out controls MPAA wants the consumer will be hard pressed to even watch a simple video in the future if they get their way.

Lee Stewart · 07-23-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

With all of the draconian lock out controls MPAA wants the consumer will be hard pressed to even watch a simple video in the future if they get their way.

Very simple really. All they want is all HD connections to be HDMI so they can enforce HDCP.

**PFC5** · 07-23-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

With all of the draconian lock out controls MPAA wants the consumer will be hard pressed to even watch a simple video in the future if they get their way.

+ 1000

I don't pirate things as the studios (and others) deserve the fruits of their labor/risks, but at some point honest people like myself shouldn't pay the price with less usability and likely playback issues for the few(er) bad apples.

Punishing honest customers to merely throw stumbling blocks at the dishonest users/customers is bad business, counter productive, and Un-American. (We need a smiley holding up an American flag)

Loves2Watch · 07-23-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Very simple really. All they want is all HD connections to be HDMI so they can enforce HDCP.

Too bad as there are many of us that have older completely functional analog equipment that uses component only and this would punish us. For that matter digital only controls will not stop as they say they will. Do you really believe that that is their only purpose. If so I believe you to be way too naive. (BTW I have a bridge for sale). The ultimate goal here is to charge the consumer over and over again for the same content but many consumers, even the educated ones fail to see that master plan. If you agree with everything the RIAA and MPAA want then I truly feel sorry for you and the rest of the world because as long as we allow this kind of action it will be us as consumers who will pay for it, over and over and over again.

Rather than making the honest consumer pay the price with limited access, it's time for them to change their failing, antiquated business model.

Lee Stewart · 07-23-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

Too bad as there are many of us that have older completely functional analog equipment that uses component only and this would punish us. For that matter digital only controls will not stop as they say they will. Do you really believe that that is their only purpose. If so I believe you to be way too naive. (BTW I have a bridge for sale). The ultimate goal here is to charge the consumer over and over again for the same content but many consumers, even the educated ones fail to see that master plan. If you agree with everything the RIAA and MPAA want then I truly feel sorry for you and the rest of the world because as long as we allow this kind of action it will be us as consumers who will pay for it, over and over and over again.

Rather than making the honest consumer pay the price with limited access, it's time for them to change their failing, antiquated business model.

My my . . . how outspoken you are . . . and even worse . . . how foolish and wrong you are because you didn't read what I wrote now did you?

You just simply ASSUMED that what I wrote is my desire.

Soooooo . . . for your review once again . . .

Quote:

Very simple really. All they want is all HD connections to be HDMI so they can enforce HDCP.

Do you see any of these words in that statement?

Me
I
Mine
My

I don't. As a matter of fact - all I see is the word "they" and it is used twice.

So do me a great favor . . .

Take your bridge for sale and shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

electrictroy · 07-24-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Very simple really. All they want is all HD connections to be HDMI so they can enforce HDCP.

That sounds okay, but what about those persons who want to watch their HD Blurays or HD-Cable Boxes with S-video or Composite video connections (on older sets)???

This new ability would "turn off" those connections, and leave viewers with either blank screens, or an expensive upgrade to a new HDMI television.

Stupid, stupid rat creatures (MPAA).

Lee Stewart · 07-24-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electrictroy

That sounds okay, but what about those persons who want to watch their HD Blurays with S-video or Composite video connections on older sets?

This new ability would "turn off" those connections, and leave viewers with either useless discs, or an expensive upgrade to a new HDMI television.

Stupid, stupid rat creatures (MPAA).

Troy - it is to my understanding that the only connection they are interested in turning off is the HD Component connection. Not the NTSC connections that you mention.

You can't get an HD signal from a NTSC connection.

electrictroy · 07-24-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Not the NTSC connections that you mention.

Ahhh, but they COULD turn off the S-video connection, if they felt like it. That's like the politicians when they said, "We will only apply income tax to the rich" which was true upto 1940. Then suddenly they started taxing the middle and lower incomes too.

If this new ruling passed, I believe that some anal company (cough- Toshiba & Sony) would decide to turn-off S-video and Composite connections too, so as to stop piracy via VCRs, DVRs, Ipods, et cetera.

Loves2Watch · 07-24-2008, 09:15 AM

In any case, turning off analog connections is a bad move for the consumer.

Lee Stewart · 07-24-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electrictroy

Ahhh, but they COULD turn off the S-video connection, if they felt like it. That's like the politicians when they said, "We will only apply income tax to the rich" which was true upto 1940. Then suddenly they started taxing the middle and lower incomes too.

If this new ruling passed, I believe that some anal company (cough- Toshiba & Sony) would decide to turn-off S-video and Composite connections too, so as to stop piracy via VCRs, DVRs, Ipods, et cetera.

Here Troy:

Selectable Output Control and Down-Rezzing

Quote:

What they are: Hollywood wants to block use of restriction-free outputs ("selectable output control") and be able to intentionally degrade picture quality from them ("down-rezzing"). Hollywood already has these capabilities in next-gen DVD formats and has pushed the FCC to allow them for cable and satellite.

Why they're bad: Your expensive HD displays might not give you HD quality picture or work at all. Many current and novel devices rely on unrestricted outputs, particularly component analog connections.

http://www.eff.org/issues/digital-video#soc

If you want to continue with your potential conspiracy about them shutting off the NTSC outputs . . .

You are on your own.

electrictroy · 07-29-2008, 04:15 PM

It says "particularly" componet outputs. It doesn't say "only".

Which means they could turn-off S-video if they decided S-video was a path for DVD cloners to pirate movies. You might think S-video is not a potential "analog hole", but who knows what the movie studios think. Remember, these are the same guys who created Macrovision to ruin VCRs and DVDs from working properly (unless directly connected to the TV).

pappylap · 07-29-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Which means they could turn-off S-video if they decided S-video was a path for DVD cloners to pirate movies.

Yes, and they could come into your bedroom during the day when you are at work and shortsheet your bed....or replace the toothpaste in the tube with window caulk or put lots of other peoples hair in your hairbrush in as effort the to get you to buy Rogiane.....but will they?

07-23-2008, 11:38 AM	#4
Loves2Watch SPAM Police Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ, NM, TX, MX Posts: 13,972	With all of the draconian lock out controls MPAA wants the consumer will be hard pressed to even watch a simple video in the future if they get their way. __________________ Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.

07-24-2008, 09:15 AM	#12
Loves2Watch SPAM Police Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ, NM, TX, MX Posts: 13,972	In any case, turning off analog connections is a bad move for the consumer. __________________ Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.

07-29-2008, 04:15 PM	#14
electrictroy Wii 480p looks good to me Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,895	It says "particularly" componet outputs. It doesn't say "only". Which means they could turn-off S-video if they decided S-video was a path for DVD cloners to pirate movies. You might think S-video is not a potential "analog hole", but who knows what the movie studios think. Remember, these are the same guys who created Macrovision to ruin VCRs and DVDs from working properly (unless directly connected to the TV). __________________ TV Band/whitespace Devices will block my Baltimore/Philly stations. No more channels 2,3,6,10,11,12,13,17,35,45,57,61,65

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