Comments on: Microsoft, Macrovision align on copy protection

Companies strike antipiracy deal aimed at stopping analog copies of movies, TV shows.

[jaximflash]

The Downhill of Microsoft's Media Center!

"For upcoming versions of its Microsoft's Media Center Edition operating systems, the computer will allow users to make a temporary copy [of TV recordings] that can be stored one day, but that cannot be used after that time."

"Microsoft plans to support an upcoming revision of Macrovision's technology that will allow content to be stored for just 90 minutes, or up to a week."

A "TIME LIMIT" OF WHEN I CAN WATCH MY RECORDINGS?!!

That's ridiculous!!! And Microsoft wonders why they have an image problem; why so many people hate them. They take such a promising product like Media Center and ruin it. Instead of thinking of the little consumer, they think of the big Movie studios!

If they're really concerned about people pirating movies and TV programs, then why don't they try to work with the studios to find a compromise, instead of caving in to their demands. Instead of stupid DRM protected files, why don't they use watermarks. This way people can watch (or listen, in the case of music) to their media whenever and where ever they want, but they wouldn't share the content with others, or else the studios would be able to trace the content back to them, due to the digital watermarks.

Time limits, my buckass!! And I used to love my media center! Oh well, I guess I'll have to go with a 3rd party DVR software company when
Microsoft release

[Buzz_Friendly]

when will companies learn?

Copy protection schemes don?t work. We can argue all day about everyone?s rights but this doesn?t change this fact. Game companies have been using copy protection on its CD for years and quite simply they do not work. Neither does copy protection on DVD?s.
Here is what happens in reality. Company A want to protect its (fill in the blank here) Company B says I have something to prevent your customers and pirates from doing this at a cost of (fill in the blank here) of which you can pass on to your customers (pirates don?t pay so they are not absorbing the cost). End result?.the legitimate customers absorbs the cost, the pirates desire with the assistance of a hacker circumvents the technology the customer paid for and nothing has changed. Well accept the fact that Company B (the copy protection provider) made A LOT of money from the customer that legitimately bought the product. I have a suggestion for the customers. Demand a refund from Company A (the software company) for failing to adequately protect the content. Sue the Company B because they did not prevent the media you bought from being copied and you can put an end to this nonsense.
Ever notice that a company is quick to report is profits to its shareholders and equally as quick to point out its losses to piracy? I never have figured out how companies calculate its losses to piracy it not as though they have a receipt from the pirate informing them of the dollar value of the software(s) they have stolen. This whole situation is flawed from end to end with the customer left footing the bill. This is just more nonsense from a software vendor. Anyone want to lay odds on how long it will take for this technology to be circumvented after its released to the public?

[Not Bugged]

Linux anyone?

Looks like I'm going the dual-boot route for the foreseeable future, until Linux has a few more comparible apps and I can stop using Windows completely. Slowly but surely it's becoming clear that supporting the major OS monopoly is just shooting yourself in the foot. The fact that MS has the audacity to even announce, in effect, that they're planning on taking away abilities that consumers have and desire right now is surprising even for MS. Ego? Hubris? Do they simply think that they can sell their consumers to whomever they want and we'll simply say "thanks, may I please have another?" No thanks.

[Impreza WRX]

My thoughts exactly!

Older VCR's won't have the problem of copy pulse protect, and Linux has gotten to be so "loser friendly" and popular it's a viable replacement for Windows. Oh, and just about every form of copy protection can be broken with a program running in Linux ;)