MPAA Open To Ripping DVDs For Personal Use

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070426-mpaa-drm-must-be-interoperable-dvds-should-be-rippable.html">http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070426-mpaa-drm-must-be-interoperable-dvds-should-be-rippable.html</a><br /><br /><i>"At a LexisNexis conference on DRM this week, MPAA boss Dan Glickman said the movie studios were now fully committed to interoperable DRM, and they recognize that consumers should be able to use legitimate video material on any item in the house, including home networks. In a major shift for the industry, Glickman also announced a plan to let consumers rip DVDs for use on home media servers and iPods. Unfortunately, this plan is not yet well developed. In his speech to industry insiders at the posh Beverly Hills Four Seasons hotel, Glickman repeatedly stressed that DRM must be made to work without constricting consumers. The goal, he said, was "to make things simpler for the consumer," and he added that the movie studios were open to "a technology summit" featuring academics, IT companies, and content producers to work on the issues involved. He also pointed to the $30 million MovieLabs project that the studios are currently funding as proof of their commitment to interoperability."</i><br /><br />Well, good. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is giving its seal of approval on the concept of Fair Use. I know I feel better about all of those DVDs I rip using <a href="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobiledvd/?en">Spb Mobile DVD</a> to my JasJar to watch when traveling. It bothers me the summit will contain academics, IT companies, and content producers. How about actual consumers, or learned consumer advocates in this area? Otherwise, you get solutions <a href="http://www.uoregon.edu/~ftepfer/SchlFacilities/TireSwingTable.html">resembling this.</a>

[whydidnt]

I find his statement nothing more than a bunch of PR Shim-Sham BS.

1. The MPAA was one of the driving forces behind the "Copyright Protection Act" that basically makes it illegal to take advantage of Fair Use on DVD's, as they can't be copied without circumventing copyright protections.

2. The MPAA drove DVDxCopy out of business for specifically allowing consumers this fair use right.

They can talk all day long about how they are open to fair use, but their actions speak louder than words. Most likely they are attempting damage control so congress doesn't repeal or change the DMCA.

[beowolf]

Just finish listining to this pod cast where they spoke about this and part of the reason is to get you to purchase new hardware that allows you to burn the keys to the inner secter that the current burnners do not let you burn too.
http://www.2livefools.com/foolsblog/2007/04/25/digital-rights-management-and-you-media-vs-alec-baldwin/

[PPCRules]

... the concept of Fair Use.
Concept? I thought it used to be the law.

[geosta]

Maybe I'm just a bit cynical, but it is a strange coincidence that the MPAA starts talking about being pro-consumer just as the courts start to push back against the RIAA's lawsuits against consumers.

whydidnt is right - this is pure PR shill-speak. The MPAA wouldn't be giving up their 'right' to prosecute consumers without getting something in return - and that's going to be one very large payoff. Undoubtedly something that will ensure their members survival through the transition into digital content.

Copyright that never expires anyone?