[mythtv-users] Their Baaaacccckkk!

R. G. Newbury newbury at mandamus.org
Thu Feb 9 22:19:38 UTC 2006


    from Arstechnica:




    *HBO wants its programming to be off-limits for DVRs*

2/9/2006 2:03:29 PM, by Eric Bangeman <mailto:eric at arstechnica.com>

Although the courts shot down the FCC's attempt to enforce the broadcast 
flag, the networks are moving full steam ahead on getting the flag 
written into law one way or another. So far, one bill has been 
introduced <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051218-5797.html> 
that would plug the so-called "analog hole," and there have been a 
number of Congressional hearings 
<http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/broadcast-flag.ars> on piracy 
and copyright. No matter what the venue, the mantra of the media 
industry has been the same: restrictions on what consumers can do with 
their broadcasts are absolutely necessary in order to stop piracy and 
keep the networks in business.

Right.

HBO has joined the fray with a recent FCC filing 
<http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2006-02/hbo-petitions-fcc-to-prevent-dvr-recording/> 
in which it argues that its programming—and all "Subscription Video On 
Demand" services—should fall into the category of "Copy Never." In a 
broadcast-flagged world, that translate into consumers not being able to 
record content broadcast by HBO. No TiVo, no VCR, no video capturing on 
your PC, /no nada/.





More information about the mythtv-users mailing list