TiVo Thinks Copy Protection Is A Trade Off
from the think-again dept
TiVo is getting some press attention today for expanding the ability of their TiVoToGo offering so people will be able to move TiVo shows to things like the video iPod or the PSP. Of course, what the Associated Press article on this makes clear is that there was a tradeoff by TiVo to get this done: more stringent copy protection technology. TiVo has admitted in the past that it had to do some horse trading with the entertainment industry to even allow TiVoToGo to exist — but all that really created was a seriously crippled service that wasn’t too interesting for most users, especially when they knew they could get unencumbered TV shows elsewhere. That’s even more true today, and with people more distrustful than ever of copy protection, why would people want to buy into this offering? Companies need to realize that copy protection isn’t a “trade off.” It’s a limitation. It’s taking away the ability to do what users want with content, thereby making it less valuable to them. The TV industry has a huge opportunity to embrace more open file sharing of television shows in a way that benefits them. They can release shows in open formats with commercials, and encourage file sharing. They get more viewers and more loyal viewers — and that can be used to sell more ads. Instead, they force the content to be locked down so tightly that no one even bothers with the official offerings.
Comments on “TiVo Thinks Copy Protection Is A Trade Off”
"but dude" argument
you can say that DRM is a stupid limitation for the legit customers, but there will always be people with the arguments like “but dude they will share it with their 1000 friends and studios will loose money and stop making movies”.
to which you can reply “but dude if they do force DRM on legit users, they turj legit users into pirate users”..
so it’s never going anywhere – there’s only one way it seems, which is more and more DRM until the studios go bankrupt and can’t produce content anymore.
this makes way for independent content producers which are more willing to experiment -> and no DRM, and problem solved.
until the next technology wave…
Meanwhile back at Sony
Masking tape defeats Sony DRM rootkit: “Gartner has discovered that the technology can be easily defeated simply by applying a fingernail-sized piece of opaque tape to the outer edge of the disc. This renders session two ? which contains the self-loading DRM software ? unreadable.” – The Register
“How to Enable or Disable Automatically Running CD-ROMs” – Microsoft
bias
Don’t waste your time reading this site, every post is completely biased.
Re: bias
Aren’t all news sites bias in some way? This site is wonderful because it is saying things the way they need to be said. It’s not just dull news like other sites. It’s news written by talented writers who do an exellent job. If you don’t like it then don’t read it. Your loss not ours.
Re: bias
…and that is what makes this site “techdirt” and not “tech[POLITICALLY CORRECT]dirt”. Thanks Mike, Carlo and the entire rest of the TD team… You make my mornings before work, a pleasure to sit down in-front of the computer and read up on all the dirt happening in this technical world.
Re: bias
I’ve posted a bit here so I’d like to clarify “sick” is not me.
sick, this is not a straight news site. The articles are more editorials than “reporting.”
Re: bias
You won’t be wasting your time reading this site, every post is completely unbiased.
No Subject Given
I have difficulty imagining the technology-challenged individuals who would even considering buying a TiVo.
TiVO and iPod
Sending “Desperate Housewives” from your Tivo to your video iPod makes you the brightest kid on the short bus…