DRM Strikes Again: Samsung Blu-ray Firmware Update Means No Warner Or Universal Movies
from the who-needs-'em? dept
AdamR writes in to let us know that owners of Samsung Blu-ray players have been discovering that the latest firmware update means that movies from Warner Bros. and Universal don't play. Instead, they just lock up thanks to the DRM built into Blu-ray. Isn't that great? Pissing off legitimate customers is always a way to win people over. Of course, you have to wonder if Warner Bros. and Universal are upset with Samsung, but really they should only be upset with themselves for supporting a DRM technique that could block legitimate customers from watching their movies.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: blu-ray, drm
Companies: samsung, warner bros. nbc universal
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And again DRM just hurts legitimate consumers
I've always thought this expressed the point best:
http://i.imgur.com/GxzeV.jpg
The bottom flowchart needs to start looking more like the top flowchart.
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Re: And again DRM just hurts legitimate consumers
http://thenextweb.com/shareables/files/2010/08/drm.png
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Re: And again DRM just hurts legitimate consumers
Yar, boyo! I be pirating that image ta be usin' on the internets!
Two shakes of a sea lion and a bottle o' rum fer yer troubles! That be good stuff ta share. YAARGH!
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It's Normal Operation...
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Re: It's Normal Operation...
How can you have a warning label for DRM? It's for teh chillun and makes sure my copy of Twister isn't kiddie porn! If you don't use DRM your copy may be kiddie porn! Helen Hunt is now very disappointed in you. Not angry, but very very disappointed.
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No, it isn't at the store... think a bit, you'll get there.
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Why..
BD are such a waste of time, wake up and just use HD. If you buy this crap you asked for it.
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Re: Why..
As for that, while my ps3 will play a video from a harddrive, it doesn't have a bittorrent client built in, and i find it annoying to walk all over the house, so i ripped all my dvds to my desktop and use mediatomb.
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Here is me
-CF
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Re: Here is me
Laughing at who exactly? The Samsung BD owners? I own a BluRay player (a PS3) and I've never had any problems, other than the mild inconvienience of having to occasionally wait while new firmware downloads. A hassle I'm willing to put up with because the quality of the video and audio is so far superior to anything that I've downloaded via BitTorrent.
I do use BitTorrent for comedies and other movies that don't really "need" to be seen in 1080p with lossless audio, or to preview movies that I may be interested in buying on BluRay but didn't want to spend $12 to see in the theater.
So because someone chooses to use BluRays you feel the need to scoff? Why is it you think your poo doesn't stink? Your comment makes you sound like a condescending prick. Do you drive a Prius as well? Are you Vegan and want to scoff at those of us who choose to eat meat? How about all of you makeing these type of comments get over yourself and quit acting so high and mighty. Sheesh.
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Re: Re: Re: Here is me
Same comparison between 480 avi's and DVD.
Assuming you're looking at compressed video. I somehow doubt anyone's sharing raw avi's at 1080 quality (terabytes per hour?)
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Here is me
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Here is me
Apparently you don't know where to look. Just as with "untouched" DVDs there are "untouched" Blurays out there as uncompressed MKV (who uses AVI anymore) or m2ts with all audio/subtitle streams in one file.
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Re: Re: Re: Here is me
I'm sure movies are trending that way, but lots of the tv shows i get from the UK are not in HD yet, simply 480P.
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Re: Re: Here is me
Okay that stopped being a question pretty soon after the beginning, but I'm sure you understand..
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Yes. Laughing at YOU.
> BluRay player (a PS3) and I've never had any problems,
> other than the mild inconvienience of having to
> occasionally wait while new firmware downloads.
Laughing at YOU trying to spin this.
"I've never had any problems except for when movies won't play."
Consumers should never be aware of firmware.
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Re: Yes. Laughing at YOU.
I'm not trying to spin anything. As I said, having to wait for the firmware to update is a hassle, but one I'm willing to deal with for the quality. I agree that consumers shouldn't have to be aware of firmware.
While you're laughing at me, I'm pitying you for your schadenfreude. What a sad way to go through life. Meanwhile I'll be enjoying an amazing home theater experience... As soon as my firmware is done downloading.
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Re: Re: Here is me
Some consumer protection action should come into play here. For a firmware update "bricking" a video device, I would not be happy if that were to happen to me. So until this DRM crap works it's way out, I won't be a buyer of Blue-ray.
If I really really need life like I'll drive on over to the Falls now thats life like.
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See, if you spend money to watch a movie, then they're going to illegally take away your ability to watch the movie. (you paid for it and you didn't get it.) But pirate it and you can watch it without any restrictions.
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Re: You're too late ...
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Re: Re: You're too late ...
Yes, but that used the phone line at a time when most people weren't connected to the net. Now that people have brainwashed into accepting that some devices (PS3, XBox360, Windows XP/Vista/7) need to be connected all the time to receive updates, the idea that your disc player needs to be connected to the net 24/7 will be much easy for them to force on people.
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Where is the DRM issue?
HM
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Re: Where is the DRM issue?
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Re: Re: Where is the DRM issue?
Presumably someone has messed up the process of issuing new keys for the Samsung device.
The blu-ray DRM is thus a losing battle - but every time they take a loss they force all the consumers to get an upgrade before they can play new discs.
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Fast and slow
On the slower part of the world, downloading firmware updates can take hours, that when your update completes, you're not sure if you want to see it anymore...
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Sounds like a horror movie. Hope I can watch it.
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Its not DRM its the firmware, but you know that right !!!..
You would see that the DRM has works and does work with correct firmware. And you would make the correct assumption that the fault lies in the new firmware upgrade.
But that does not sound as nearly as good as making the usual fasle statements and misdirection. That is so common here.
But its interesting what some people will 'buy' off Mike and Co.
Just saying things like this does not make them true, and does not indicate in any way that you really know much about the subject matter.
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Re: Its not DRM its the firmware, but you know that right !!!..
The only reason you need to update your "firmware" on BD players so often is to get the latest and greatest encryption keys (aka DRM) for the new discs. Do you even know anything about the BD spec or do you just come here to spout off about things you don't like?
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Re: Its not DRM its the firmware, but you know that right !!!..
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Its so much safer to talk and no to do.. and there is alot of talk, "talk is cheap"
The only reason you need to update your "firmware" on BD players so often is to get the latest and greatest encryption keys (aka DRM) for the new discs. Do you even know anything about the BD spec or do you just come here to spout off about things you don't like?
That might be true, but this article is about OLD DRM not working after NEW firmware was added
So what has 'getting the latest and greatest encryption keys' have anything to do with
"firmware update means that movies from Warner Bros. and Universal don't play. "
Its not Warner or Universal that provided new keys, its the firmware that was WRONG..
But thats ok, being wrong is a way of life on this web site...
schadenfreude
The only person on this ste that I see that is full of it, "schedenfreude" is Mike. Who seem to revel in the misfortune of others, other business, and people who are successful in fields he thinks he knows about.
I dont have schedenfreude, at all, if you were refering to me, I do not relish or enjoy others failing, and I do no write articles about groups that fail, just because they tried and failed.
At least they tried,, right.... Mike what have you done.. ???
You dont fail, sure, you dont do anything, so failure is impossible. Its nice and safe isnt it :)..
But ofcourse if you really believed in your own claims you would pull your finger out and do something about it, and not just "TALK and TALK and TALK".
Why dont you show us all by example how your system is going to change the world ?
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Your rental has expired
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More DRM on the way
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