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Why's it so hard to get 'Buffy' on my iPod?
January 13, 2006 -
iPod porn pains parents, employers
November 16, 2005 -
Apple unveils video iPod, new iMac
October 12, 2005 -
New blow to DVD copying
March 4, 2004 -
Apple: Burn DVDs--and we'll burn you
August 28, 2002
The one serious flaw in this svelte little device is how
Don't blame Apple for this glaring oversight. You can thank our esteemed public servants in Congress.
In 1998, politicians bowed to pressure from the entertainment industry and voted overwhelmingly for the
In other words, believe it or not, Apple CEO Steve Jobs would be guilty of a federal felony if iTunes transferred DVDs to an iPod as easily as it can music from a CD.
While these Draconian penalties have angered digital-rights types for years, the prohibition really hasn't affected a broader audience. But the recently released video iPod changes this and--if we're lucky--will prove to be a flashpoint that sparks actual reforms.
"Our best hope for getting amendments to the DMCA is for more regular consumers to feel the pinch of the DMCA," says Fred von Lohmann, an attorney at the
Earlier legal tussles over the DMCA were more arcane and didn't cripple gadgets prized by millions of Americans. (About
Take the
That decision was widely ignored outside of geekdom. So were legal threats against
when politicians and lobbyists
gathered in Washington, D.C.,
to celebrate the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act.
There are some proposals in Congress that start to fix the video iPod problem, but the outlook is hardly sunny.
One bill is the
But there are some problems. The latest version of the Boucher bill seems to be watered down from an
The Lofgren bill comes closer to the mark. It says that in some cases, it is legal to distribute software that can "circumvent a technological measure" such as DVD encryption.
Unfortunately, her proposal has virtually no support. And because it's a bill introduced by a Democrat, it's hardly likely to receive a warm welcome from congressional Republicans.
More to the point, perhaps, a good portion of the U.S. technology industry is lined up against DMCA reform.
There's no shortage of enthusiasm for the 1998 law among the political class--various lobbyists and politicos
The Business Software Alliance (that is, Microsoft)
Still, some glimmers of hope exist for DMCA reform. At a
"It boils down to this: I believe that when I buy a music album or movie DVD, it should be mine once I leave the store," Barton said.
Hardware makers and Internet providers have also
Will that be enough? We'll see. It may depend on how rebellious--or cranky--video iPod owners turn out to be.
Biography
Declan McCullagh is CNET News.com's chief political correspondent. He spent more than a decade in Washington, D.C., chronicling the busy intersection between technology and politics. Previously, he was the Washington bureau chief for Wired News, and a reporter for Time.com, Time magazine and HotWired. McCullagh has taught journalism at American University and been an adjunct professor at Case Western University.
See more CNET content tagged:
DMCA,
Apple video iPod,
Democrat,
lobbyist,
Rep.
Protection. Typically, most people have no clue what they can do
with a regular PC. But once things start not working on a TV
because Sony/Microsoft says "NO," people will then care about this.
It is unfortunate but true.
Protection. Typically, most people have no clue what they can do
with a regular PC. But once things start not working on a TV
because Sony/Microsoft says "NO," people will then care about this.
It is unfortunate but true.
If they license fairplay and put an iPod compatable version of movies on the Blu-ray (or Microsoft's backed next-gen disk) for downloading to iPods (with some sort of registration I am sure through iTunes to prevent copying) then we could see movies purchased on DVD availible for iPods. I bet Apple and some of the movie studios are probably working on this already in their skunkworks labs.
If they license fairplay and put an iPod compatable version of movies on the Blu-ray (or Microsoft's backed next-gen disk) for downloading to iPods (with some sort of registration I am sure through iTunes to prevent copying) then we could see movies purchased on DVD availible for iPods. I bet Apple and some of the movie studios are probably working on this already in their skunkworks labs.
By far the best by what measure? Certainly not in it's ability to load and play video as evidenced by the author's rant. While other players don't take protected DVD's directly either, they all play more formats than the iPod.
While the video iPod is an appealing music player, possibly the best of breed, it's universally considered the worst portable video player, not the best. It supports the fewest video formats and has the smallest screen of all the offerings. Doesn't prevent me from owning one, but when I want to watch video on it I'm constantly reminded of how bad it really is.
By far the best by what measure? Certainly not in it's ability to load and play video as evidenced by the author's rant. While other players don't take protected DVD's directly either, they all play more formats than the iPod.
While the video iPod is an appealing music player, possibly the best of breed, it's universally considered the worst portable video player, not the best. It supports the fewest video formats and has the smallest screen of all the offerings. Doesn't prevent me from owning one, but when I want to watch video on it I'm constantly reminded of how bad it really is.
Which wouold they rather have? People downloading there movies online for free; or people loading there movies to there PC/Mac quickly and easily? (which would probably boost sales)
Which wouold they rather have? People downloading there movies online for free; or people loading there movies to there PC/Mac quickly and easily? (which would probably boost sales)
I suspect most members of Congress wouldn't know an iPod from an iron. And they clearly have no idea that current telecom regulations hinder choice for consumers and weigh down our economy.
They are, in some ways, hopeless.
http://www.channelchanger.typepad.com
I suspect most members of Congress wouldn't know an iPod from an iron. And they clearly have no idea that current telecom regulations hinder choice for consumers and weigh down our economy.
They are, in some ways, hopeless.
http://www.channelchanger.typepad.com
now, dmca. backed by big money from content owners. still a clueless federal government. it won't be revoked or significantly modified .. ever.
however, like the 55-mph speed limit, despite its chilling effect, it will be almost universally ignored. enforcement will be spotty because those charged with enforcing it have more vital things to do.
mark d.
http://members.cox.net/mddoiron
now, dmca. backed by big money from content owners. still a clueless federal government. it won't be revoked or significantly modified .. ever.
however, like the 55-mph speed limit, despite its chilling effect, it will be almost universally ignored. enforcement will be spotty because those charged with enforcing it have more vital things to do.
mark d.
http://members.cox.net/mddoiron
http://www.tuaw.com/2006/01/20/tvmyipod-service-legal/2#c952161
Only a mainstream effort can get the DMCA changed. The video iPod has the best chance at sparking that change and the longer movie content is absent from ITMS, the better the chance that it actually happens.
Jeff
- DeClan was reading my mind
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by rgbyhkr
January 25, 2006 4:26 AM PST
- I have had this same thought about the video iPod sparking change since before it was released. See my comments on another story from TUAW last week about the TVMyiPod service (last 3 paragraphs):
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Only a mainstream effort can get the DMCA changed. The video iPod has the best chance at sparking that change and the longer movie content is absent from ITMS, the better the chance that it actually happens.
Jeff