Checking In On The DVD Jukebox Lawsuit
from the how-dare-you-want-to-do-something-useful dept
While the Supreme Court ponders the issues set forth in the Grokster case, other, lesser known cases are moving forward. Last December, we wrote about the creator of a $27,000 DVD jukebox, who was sued by the movie industry. The product had all sorts of anti-copying technologies built in, and was very clearly designed to just let the user store all their DVD movies on a central server for his or her own viewing pleasure. Here's an update article that doesn't necessarily say anything new, but does point out the "real" reason why the movie industry is so afraid. They're worried that people will rent movies and burn them to the media server. So, let's get this straight: the industry is worried that people who are buying a $27,000 movie server will then go out and save a whopping $7 to $10 or so by renting a movie and ripping it straight to their hard drive. Of course, in the meantime, plenty of folks can download a DVD ripping application from the web for free. Maybe this is one case that the industry can just let go...
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No Subject Given
Maybe you don't get it. The reason the movie industry does not want you to save files to your hard drive is that then you have no other reason to ever purchase the film again.
The secret of Hollywood's success can be traced allllll the way back to that creature they first tried to ban - something called a "video casette recorder."
Wonder of wonders ... the VCR made TRILLIONS for the studios. It was even better when Betamax came out: Two competing (and here's the important part) and INCOMPATIBLE analog standards - one for the masses, and a better one for the astethic, who invaribly bought two versions of the movie.
The best thing about analog tapes is that they degrade over time. Eventually, if you want the movie in our collection, you have to purchase it again. If a newer, better quality (define it however you like) comes along, and you want that format, you have to buy the movie again.
Not so once you can put that file on a hard drive. Now, it's original, pristine and perfect. You never have to buy the movie ever again, no matter what format comes along (there will always be digital converters).
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Re: No Subject Given
That's changed over time with DVDs... but with VCRs it was all in the rental market.
The jukebox doesn't really put a crimp in the rental market. If anything, it encourages it.
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