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Google blocks rooted devices from Android Movie Market

It seems that Google has begun to crackdown on 'rooted' Android device, starting off by banning them from its Android Movie Market.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer

It seems that Google has begun to crackdown on 'rooted' Android device, starting off by banning them from its Android Movie Market.

Rooting an Android device is a similar to jailbreaking iOS devices in that it removes the limitations that the manufacturers and carriers put on what the owners do with the device.

Well, if you've rooted your Android 'Honeycomb' device then you're not welcome in Google's new Movie Market video rental portal (currently only available for devices running Android 'Honeycomb' 3.1). If you have a rooted device and do try to download a movie you'll be faced with the following error:

Failed to fetch license for [movie title] (error 49)

Google even tells you why you're not welcome:

You'll receive this "Error 49" message if you attempt to play a movie on a rooted device. Rooted devices are currently unsupported due to requirements related to copyright protection.

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I guess the reasoning is that a rooted devices could allow access to the movie file and allow it to be ripped off. I'm pretty sure that honest folks wouldn't do this and that those who do want to rip stuff off will find ways to rip stuff off despite this roadblock.

So if you want to enjoy Google Movie Market, don't root your Honeycomb device.

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