Media Center PC's and Microsofts stupidness.

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12-10-2002, 12:39 PM
Fhantazm

Media Center PC's and Microsofts stupidness.

Welp,
It appears Msoft still hasnt learned, and is STILL up to their stupidness. Apparently, they have coded MC XP to only allow DVD's burnt from the OS to pe played on the system in which it was recorded.

Heres the article.
http://comment.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,...127205,00.html

I mean, i can slightly understand a need for right management, and to prevent mass distribution of so called "pirated" tv shows/movies, but come on. As the article states, you cant even tape your favorite shows, and watch them at your friends house, on the plane, or even in the next room! Thats asanine!! Am I totally offbase here?
12-10-2002, 01:03 PM
ua549

AFIK there are exceptions in the copyright laws for magnetic tape, but not for DVD media.

The laws are convoluted and sometimes do not make much sense. For example it is legal to rip a copyright CD but not a copyright DVD. Why? Because copyright DVDs are encrypted and it is not legal to break the encryption even though you own the DVD.
12-10-2002, 03:04 PM
Kernel Panic

Quote:

Originally posted by ua549
AFIK there are exceptions in the copyright laws for magnetic tape, but not for DVD media.

The laws are convoluted and sometimes do not make much sense. For example it is legal to rip a copyright CD but not a copyright DVD. Why? Because copyright DVDs are encrypted and it is not legal to break the encryption even though you own the DVD.

Yep. It is a great example of how the DMCA has been used to superceed the rights given within the Fair Use act.

The really funny part, is that its target audience is college students. College students are by far, the biggest group of what the RIAA/MPAA refer to as "terrorists". Do they really think college students are going to buy it?
12-10-2002, 03:29 PM
irwincur

These PCs are stupid anyways. What the hell is the big deal - just add a $40 ATI VE TV card to your machine and you basically have a similar solution.
12-10-2002, 04:00 PM
BloodRed

Quote:

Originally posted by irwincur
These PCs are stupid anyways. What the hell is the big deal - just add a $40 ATI VE TV card to your machine and you basically have a similar solution.

True, but that solution doesn't allow MS to sell a complete line of products. What "we" as IT types would buy, and what the average consumer would buy are often two different things.