No posts about Sony's new, broken DVD DRM?

I would have thought folks would have jumped all over this one...

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/15/1914248

Slashdot is reporting that recent DVD releases from Sony are unplayable on
some DVD players (including some Sony players) because of a new form of
DRM that causes them to lock up. When asked about the problem, Sony not
only said they don't intend to fix the problem, but that it's the
manufacturers' responsibility to update their firmware to be able to play
these new DVDs.

Not that this new form of copy protection actually, you know, prevents
copying. Posts on Amazon reveal that people were able to rip, copy and
burn these new DVDs with no problem.

Way to go Sony. I guess the CD/Rootkit debacle wasn't bad enough... On
the other hand, this could take some attention off their floundering PS3.

Doug Jacobs

Doug Jacobs wrote:

> I would have thought folks would have jumped all over this one...
>
> http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/15/1914248
>
> Slashdot is reporting that recent DVD releases from Sony are unplayable on
> some DVD players (including some Sony players) because of a new form of
> DRM that causes them to lock up. When asked about the problem, Sony not
> only said they don't intend to fix the problem, but that it's the
> manufacturers' responsibility to update their firmware to be able to play
> these new DVDs.

The group's burned out on "Mean old studios preventing our good, saintly
'fair use backups'" copy-protection issue posts, but Sony's goof is
starting to hit the tech-news headlines.

It's more the case that Sony adding something evil to their disks isn't
really the headline it used to be, but that it got so much exposure in
such an embarrassing way this time is worth keeping an eye on.

Derek Janssen

Derek Janssen

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:15:06 -0000, Doug Jacobs wrote:

> I would have thought folks would have jumped all over this one...
>
> http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/04/15/1914248
>
> Slashdot is reporting that recent DVD releases from Sony are unplayable on
> some DVD players (including some Sony players) because of a new form of
> DRM that causes them to lock up. When asked about the problem, Sony not
> only said they don't intend to fix the problem, but that it's the
> manufacturers' responsibility to update their firmware to be able to play
> these new DVDs.

1) It's not just Sony DVD releases that have this problem. Releases from
Disney and Weinstein Company also have this issue:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/16/s...vds-wont-play/

2) Sony's already fixed the problem and will offer replacement copies of
their discs for those with problems:

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6434584.html
"Customers can call Sony Pictures Home Entertainment customer service at
800.860.2878 for replacement discs."

3) ArccOS isn't technically a "DRM", it's just a form of copy protection,
which is similar to DRM, but not identical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARccOS_Protection

-Jay

Jay G.

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:15:06 -0000, Doug Jacobs
<> wrote:

>Way to go Sony. I guess the CD/Rootkit debacle wasn't bad enough... On
>the other hand, this could take some attention off their floundering PS3.

Yeah sounds familiar. Was it a 99 cent marker that broke a
multi-million dollars copy protection scheme on CD?

The harder they try, the easier for crooks to slip through. Maybe if
they stopped focusing on copy protection and instead tried to sell the
CD and DVD *cheaper*, a lot less would be inclined to illegally copy.

Should Sony consider my idea and it does work, I'll expect a check for
$100k in the mail soon. =)

Impmon

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:59:10 GMT from Impmon <>:
> The harder they try, the easier for crooks to slip through. Maybe if
> they stopped focusing on copy protection and instead tried to sell the
> CD and DVD *cheaper*, a lot less would be inclined to illegally copy.

Oh, come on. When a DVD costs $20 or less, it's not the cost that
motivates most people. They'd rip off the same DVD if it cost $1,
just for the thrill.

But this actually makes copy-protection schemes *more* annoying, not
less: they inconvenience honest users, and don't deter dishonest
ones.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/
DVD FAQ: http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
other FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/faqget.htm

Stan Brown

In article <>,
says...
> On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:15:06 -0000, Doug Jacobs
> <> wrote:
>
> >Way to go Sony. I guess the CD/Rootkit debacle wasn't bad enough... On
> >the other hand, this could take some attention off their floundering PS3.
>
> Yeah sounds familiar. Was it a 99 cent marker that broke a
> multi-million dollars copy protection scheme on CD?
>
> The harder they try, the easier for crooks to slip through. Maybe if
> they stopped focusing on copy protection and instead tried to sell the
> CD and DVD *cheaper*, a lot less would be inclined to illegally copy.


maybe.

But more likely everyone would pirate more.

--
"You're not going to enjoy this, and it won't be quick"

Very apt quote from "300", I didn't and it wasn't.

fish.

fish. <> wrote:

>But more likely everyone would pirate more.

Yeah, right. Most people sweat just hooking up their DVD player.

Kimba W. Lion

Stan Brown <> wrote:

> Oh, come on. When a DVD costs $20 or less, it's not the cost that
> motivates most people. They'd rip off the same DVD if it cost $1,
> just for the thrill.

Or just because they're cheap.

> But this actually makes copy-protection schemes *more* annoying, not
> less: they inconvenience honest users, and don't deter dishonest
> ones.

Such has been true for the entire history of copy protection. It always
ends up being circumvented, doesn't deter professional piracy in the
least, and only ends up harassing legitimate customers.

Of course, the idea of just not bother to copy protect stuff at all is one
that the entire media industry just isn't ready to accept yet.

--
Win cash and giftcards just for clicking your mouse!
http://www.netwinner.com/?signupCode=amuro98

Doug Jacobs

fish. <> wrote:

> > The harder they try, the easier for crooks to slip through. Maybe if
> > they stopped focusing on copy protection and instead tried to sell the
> > CD and DVD *cheaper*, a lot less would be inclined to illegally copy.

> maybe.

> But more likely everyone would pirate more.

I think most people are generally honest. The problem is partly one of
education - which the companies are ignoring by calling us all thieves
right up front.

Sure, some people would make copies if there wasn't any copy protection,
but chances are, these are the same people who are making copies now. All
copy protection can hope to do is make casual copying more difficult. It
doesn't make it impossible, and it doesn't do a thing against the big-time
pirates over in Asia who sell their warez for $3-5 a movie at little
roadside stands all across the pacific. If these companies want to do
something about the piracy problem, get the governments of China,
Malaysia, the Phillipines, etc. to DO something more about these
operations than the ocassional slap-on-the-wrist for the stall owner,
who's usually back in business the very next day.

--
Win cash and giftcards just for clicking your mouse!
http://www.netwinner.com/?signupCode=amuro98

Doug Jacobs

In article <>, Kimba W. Lion
<kimbawlion> says...
> fish. <> wrote:
>
> >But more likely everyone would pirate more.
>
> Yeah, right. Most people sweat just hooking up their DVD player.
>


I take it you represent most people? You realise that a DVD player
being 'hooked up' has F.A to do with someone copying a DVD in a PC
right?



--
"You're not going to enjoy this, and it won't be quick"

Very apt quote from "300", I didn't and it wasn't.

fish.