Could MPAA do what DirecTv did?

[tommyjw]

I can imagine MPAA buying DVDFab for the same purpose as DirecTv did at the following link: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/07/17/directv_dragnet_snares_innocent_techies/

Any thoughts on this? Anyone know what became of these lawsuits?

[jagabo]

Of course. But DirecTV eventually got their asses whooped over this and gave up the campaign.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9776790-38.html
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/directv-anti-piracy-case-thrown-out-smart-card-programmers-brea/

[jman98]

I guess it COULD happen, but you're assuming that the MPAA is interested in doing that, that the owner(s) are interested in selling, and that the MPAA could get its act together enough to do that. They've been much more interested in suing uploaders than doing what you propose. And while all bets are off with the US legal system, it could be that judges will simply say "It's impossible to prove that just because someone bought this product that they are using it to distribute unprotected copies". The MPAA would really like to not have a precedent set that backing up DVDs might be legal (they basically argue on shaky ground that nobody can ever back up a DVD) and as such are likely to not want to force the issue since it might not go their way.

[Alexstarfire]

Ummmm, backing up DVDs is legal. It's the getting around the copy protection that's illegal.