Tag: DRM

Large content owners have constantly sought to control every use of their content. In pursuit of this control, they have often sued the creators of technologies that have offered consumers new ways of enjoying content. Those sued have included the makers of the digital audiotape, the Betamax videotape recorder, and the Pioneer Inno used with XM’s satellite radio service. The latest lawsuit in this saga has been filed by a group of Hollywood studios against RealNetworks. The object of their ire this time is RealDVD, software that allows consumers to make copies of their DVDs.

Here’s how RealDVD works: It allows a consumer to make a complete bit-for-bit copy of a DVD, including the included CSS encryption, onto his computer or an external hard drive.

Large content owners have constantly sought to control every use of their content. In pursuit of this control, they have often sued the creators of technologies that have offered consumers new ways of enjoying content. Those sued have included the makers of the digital audiotape, the Betamax videotape recorder, and the Pioneer Inno used with XM’s satellite radio service. The latest lawsuit in this saga has been filed by a group of Hollywood studios against RealNetworks. The object of their ire this time is RealDVD, software that allows consumers to make copies of their DVDs.

Here’s how RealDVD works: It allows a consumer to make a complete bit-for-bit copy of a DVD, including the included CSS encryption, onto his computer or an external hard drive.

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

The Future of Music Coalition and the Old Town School of Folk Music are sponsoring the seminar “What’s the Future for Musicians?” for Chicago’s musicians, composers, performers, songwriters and record labels. Registration is $25.

For schedule and registration information please visit: http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/chicago08/

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL

The Future of Music Coalition and the Old Town School of Folk Music are sponsoring the seminar “What’s the Future for Musicians?” for Chicago’s musicians, composers, performers, songwriters and record labels. Registration is $25.

For schedule and registration information please visit: http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/chicago08/

S. 3325, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Act of 2008, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier today, 15-4. The bill was amended to remove, among other things, the provision expanding penalties for circumventing DRM. Other amendments removed potentially problematic new offenses involving transshipment, and still others added protective orders for private or confidential data recovered when servers are seized or forfeited.

Still in the bill is a section authorizing the federal government to sue infringers in civil court in order to turn the money over to copyright holders.

S. 3325, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Act of 2008, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier today, 15-4. The bill was amended to remove, among other things, the provision expanding penalties for circumventing DRM. Other amendments removed potentially problematic new offenses involving transshipment, and still others added protective orders for private or confidential data recovered when servers are seized or forfeited.

Still in the bill is a section authorizing the federal government to sue infringers in civil court in order to turn the money over to copyright holders.

The PRO-IP Act is back, in a sense. Recently, the Senate introduced a new version of its IP enforcement bill, which would increase penalties for a range of infringements, and give content holders and the government new powers in pursuing alleged infringers. The new bill is scheduled for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, meaning that it may well pass the Senate, and then Congress as a whole in this abbreviated session.

The Senate bill, S. 3325, shares a lot of features with the House’s PRO-IP bill, but it also adds a few new twists.

The PRO-IP Act is back, in a sense. Recently, the Senate introduced a new version of its IP enforcement bill, which would increase penalties for a range of infringements, and give content holders and the government new powers in pursuing alleged infringers. The new bill is scheduled for consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, meaning that it may well pass the Senate, and then Congress as a whole in this abbreviated session.

The Senate bill, S. 3325, shares a lot of features with the House’s PRO-IP bill, but it also adds a few new twists.

Consumer rights advocates and media companies have been fighting over digital rights management (DRM) software for many years now. In the age of the closing digital media store, the negative effects of DRM are more apparent than ever before.

Just a few days ago Yahoo! announced it would be closing its music store, taking the authentication server for its DRM offline in September. This will leave its users without access to the content they believed they bought once they: switch computers, alter their operating system, or try to copy their Yahoo! store music to an MP3 player. Luckily for Yahoo! customers the company has said it will compensate them for music they bought.

Consumer rights advocates and media companies have been fighting over digital rights management (DRM) software for many years now. In the age of the closing digital media store, the negative effects of DRM are more apparent than ever before.

Just a few days ago Yahoo! announced it would be closing its music store, taking the authentication server for its DRM offline in September. This will leave its users without access to the content they believed they bought once they: switch computers, alter their operating system, or try to copy their Yahoo! store music to an MP3 player. Luckily for Yahoo! customers the company has said it will compensate them for music they bought.