Sony sets movies to self-destruct

[BJ_M]

i guess following disneys lead, but this is for downloaded movies:

Sony sets movies to self-destruct

By CNETAsia Staff
CNETAsia
May 30, 2003, 11:50 AM PT


A subsidiary of electronics maker Sony is to sell downloadable movie files that self-destruct after a given time.
According to Japanese newspaper Nikkei Business Daily, the company's So-net Internet service provider will soon trial the service in Japan.

Many digital content providers currently use encrypted streaming to prevent people from saving and copying movie files. The downside is that the quality of the video suffers, as it is reduced in size for Web transmission. In addition, people must stay online to view the feed.




However, allowing downloads of movie files opens the door to illegal copying.

To sidestep these issues, So-net's new service allows people to download the content from its Web site to their hard drives--but those hoping to add the file to a permanent collection or to copy it could have their attempts frustrated.

The company has incorporated a digital rights management (DRM) technology from software maker Japan Wave into its service, which should make copying impossible, the report said.

Instead of saving a video to a single file and location, Japan Wave's technology splits the data into numerous directories on a hard disk. People need to download special software to play back the various pieces as a continuous movie.

There's a second layer of protection: Those who manage to join up the files won't be able to use them for very long. Software embedded in the file is designed to cause it to self-destruct after a given time, said the report.

So-net's approach to DRM is part of a growing effort by ISPs to find robust copy protection without restricting people's rights to enjoy the content.

Earlier this month, Walt Disney announced plans for a trial in the United States. The company said it will start renting self-destructing DVDs that automatically become unplayable after a two-day period.

Major movie studios in Hollywood are also turning up the heat, joining forces in a slew of lawsuits against U.S.-based DVD-copying software makers like DVDBackupbuddy.com and DVDSqueeze.com.

[marvel2020]

F*£k Sony

As far as i'm concerned, Sony can kiss my Big White A*%

:P 8)

[The village idiot]

Are they really so conceited as to think they will actually win the anti-copy war? Someone WILL find a way to crack this protection. They always do. The more it is protected, the more it drives people to break it! Look at things like encryption for DVD audio. How long did that last? It didn't even make it into printed disks before it was cracked.

[BJ_M]

Are they really so conceited as to think they will actually win the anti-copy war? Someone WILL find a way to crack this protection. They always do. The more it is protected, the more it drives people to break it! Look at things like encryption for DVD audio. How long did that last? It didn't even make it into printed disks before it was cracked.

i didnt even know dvd-a was cracked but i'm not supprised .. i remember that was supposed to be real hard to break.

i thought it rather pointless anyway because if you can hear it - you can record it ..

[drewson99]

same goes for seeing.

example: when I had way too much trouble going from XviD to DVD (yes, i stripped the WAV. yes, i did [insert advice here]) I just s-vid out to DV passtrough into my other computer, then author. no fuss no muss.

what are these media giants playing at? they need to innovate.

example: Apples new MP3 store. the price is the same as CDs, but I see it as a step forward because it addresses the issue of electronic music making it simple to buy only the songs you like, no more buying a CD for a few good songs.

[andkiich]

The DVD codec/macrovision was broken, DVD audio has been broken, and if they have a program that will be able to "read" all the files from wherever they are on your machine, you can be sure that there will be someone out there that will be able to write a program that can figure that out too.

Just give them time.

[Greg12]

Every game protection, even "unbreakable" ones (w/ the wooble and variable glass master" were broken.

[bugster]

But you all forget one thing. For every computer savvy person capable of downloading and using a DRM breaking program (like most users of this board) there are 10, maybe a hundred computer novices who WILL pay for services like this. It's tose masses who DRM will work against, and probably work well enough to generate significant profits.

Even when the DRM is cracked (and I agree, it probably will be), it just gives the studios more ammunition to shout Pirate at all computer users, complain to the goverenment and excuse poor stock market performance whilst increasing prices!

[Hardcoreruss]

same goes for seeing.

example: when I had way too much trouble going from XviD to DVD (yes, i stripped the WAV. yes, i did [insert advice here]) I just s-vid out to DV passtrough into my other computer, then author. no fuss no muss.

what are these media giants playing at? they need to innovate.

example: Apples new MP3 store. the price is the same as CDs, but I see it as a step forward because it addresses the issue of electronic music making it simple to buy only the songs you like, no more buying a CD for a few good songs.

It is a good idea and a good service, but £1 a track !!! that means say R Kelly's new album that has over 20 tracks will cost you over twenty quid when you could buy the cd from cd wow for a tenner.

[energy80s]

Actually its nearer 60p a song. And how many of the 20 songs on the album would you want to keep anyway! Yes, if you want the full album, buy the disc, but if you only want the singles, download them!

[nufan292]

I thought I heard somewhere that on apple's mp3 store that for albums it was a flat rate, like $8 when you want the whole album or something to that extent. Which I have to admit, if it is $8 that is pretty damn good.

[Redd]

As far as i'm concerned, Sony can kiss my Big White A*%

In this country it would have been "my big Irish A$$". Made famous by a New York City Irish firefighter while addressing Bin Lauden after 911 in a very large public gathering. Made Fox news.