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RE: Verizon to test sending RIAA copyright warnings

anarchy_1024 13th Nov 2009

Sometimes I'm "forced" to download a copy of a movie or album, even when I purchase it legitimately. The problem is in the copy protections they are using. I completely understand companies trying to protect their works from being distributed illegally; I DO NOT accept when that copy protection mechanism restricts the legitimate use of a product obtained legally.

Some audio CDs are sold that are unreadable in computer optical drives (not talking about the Sony rootkit issue) because the lead-out is intentionally corrupted. CD-Audio players don't care; computers do. The issue is that a lot of car head units (especially MP3-capable ones) read the discs more like computers, and will not read those discs (there is a marker trick to cover the lead-out, but that should not be required). And some people still like to listen to audio CDs on their computer, or have their computer connected to a killer sound system.

So, I have to download a copy of the album, just so I can listen to it.

New copy protection mechanisms with DVD will not allow the disc to be played unless the system verifies it is connected to an HDCP-compliant monitor. I have a computer connected to an older rear-projection TV via S-Video cable. It will not play any copy-protected movies, complaining it cannot enable the copy protection for the video output. So what am I supposed to do? Buy a new TV when I already have one that works perfectly? Rip the DVD to the computer and play it from there (also illegal, according to the DMCA; circumventing copy protection mechanism). Also, new netbooks and ultra-portable laptops don't even have optical drives; what then?

So, I can download the movie, just so I can actually watch it on my TV.

The price of a DVD movie includes, among other things, the production of the movie, labor and materials of the disc and packaging, marketing, administrative costs, etc. etc. Some are related to the movie itself, others are variable costs relating to the production of discs on a per-unit basis (raw materials, for example). So, if I already purchased the DVD, paying my share of the initial production costs, and I want to purchase a Blu-Ray version, why should I have to re-pay my portion of the movie creation cost? I have no problem paying the replication and distribution costs associated with that specific unit of the new medium, though.

Instead, I can download a Blu-Ray rip of that movie.

I purchase (for example) a limited-platium-extended-edition of The Lion King, which obviously cost quite it bit. My little nephew wants to watch the movie when he comes over (not give a copy to him). I would prefer to make a duplicate that he can get his fingerprints on, scratch, and ultimately, destroy. Legally, I can't. So, what am I supposed to do? Will the publisher give me a replacement copy of the disc should the original get destroyed? I highly doubt it (haven't actually tried, though; if someone has, let us know your experiences).

Instead, I can download a copy, burn it to DVD (or make it available on the HTPC), so I don't get my original destroyed.

Eventually, I may get tired of paying the full retail price for a product that I CANNOT USE, and supporting an industry that causes so many problems for their legitimate customers.

Although everything above isn't directly related to this article, it's related to the way that the RIAA, MPAA, CRIA, etc. don't give a **** about people who don't want to break the law, but have no choice given the fact that the product they purchased IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE.