SCI/TECH: Setting DVD Upstart on 'Pause', page 1

posted on Apr, 3 2005 @ 08:05 PM

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Home movie jukeboxes. The concept has been gaining significant popularity in the consumer public. Kaleidescape Inc. is an upstart company that is trying to take this technology to a new level - storing the movies on a hard drive, thereby allowing non-synchronous playback of DVD movies on several TVs in a house. This technology, however, has been plagued with legal issues. The stringent anti-piracy laws currently in place have made implementing this technology legally difficult, at best. The major concern, people renting a DVD, copying it to the system, and returning it, has been addressed through a series of safeguards and checks to ensure the system is being used legally.

www.latimes.com
The company's three-part system includes a disc reader that copies DVDs; a server with multiple hard drives, which stores and transmits scrambled movies over a home network; and set-top boxes that descramble the movies for playback. Anytime users try to rip a DVD, the system requires them to attest that they own and will keep the disc.

Each system connects to the Internet periodically to receive updates, and "we have the technical ability to turn off the system if it's not being used in compliance," said Anne M. Ortel, Kaleidescape's senior counsel.

Coates, the DVD association's attorney, said, "All those protections that they allegedly put in place actually make clear they're aware that they're not following the license."

The case has made numerous executives in the technology and consumer electronics world uneasy, even though representatives of their industries approved the lawsuit.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Kaleidescape Inc. is doing their best to provide this technology to home users while abiding by all the laws surrounding piracy issues. Whereas I do see the system as a very convenient way of storing and viewing DVDs, I do see the potential for abuse of the system.

The systems current price tag of $27,000 makes it less than affordable for most people, however there are currently between 400 and 500 customers who have purchased this system. The final verdict of whether or not this system is ultimately legal to use or not sits in the hands of the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin next month.

Kidfinger

posted on Apr, 3 2005 @ 08:14 PM

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Piracy will be involved with any new technology. If the industry puts it out, the community will crack it. It is a never ending cycle. Movies, music, games, software and apps all avaliable with just a few searches. Though the legality of it may be in question, it is hard to tell someone not to eat the oreo on the table while you leave and they sit there and look at it.

The industry needs to find a way to intigrate this aspect of media consumption into their existing business model. It will always be there. They would benifit greatly if they figured out how to profit from piracy and not lose potential customers.

obsidian468

posted on Apr, 3 2005 @ 09:05 PM

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Well, this story isn't so much about whether or not people are going to crack it, but rather about trying to release a new technology, that is legal, yet operates in a way similar to illegal practices. Admittedly, nothing is secure, however, the safeguards put in place on this system are to try and cover the developers butts, and appease the lawyers from a legal aspect.