Interesting twist on Digital Rights Management

slayda · 05-14-2007, 04:34 PM

An article on ZDnet may be of interest for those worried about DRM. It seems that Media Rights Technologies think that Apple, Microsoft & others are violating our rights.

Quote:

A California company that makes technology designed to prevent ripping of digital audio streams has accused Apple, Microsoft, RealNetworks and Adobe Systems of violating federal copyright law by "actively avoiding" use of its products.

Media Rights Technologies and its digital radio subsidiary BlueBeat.com said in a press release Thursday that it had issued cease and desist letters to the high-tech titans. It argues that the companies have manufactured billions of copies of Windows Vista, Adobe Flash Player, Real Player and Apple's iTunes and iPod "without regard for the DMCA or the rights of American intellectual property owners."

flumbo · 05-14-2007, 07:20 PM

As I understand it, Media Rights Technology isn't interested in consumer rights. They market technology that prevents consumers from making an analog or digital recording of copyrighted works-- So you couldn't just hook up the line out to a tape recorder if their software was involved.

They are suing because they feel that Apple, Microsoft, etc are required under the DMCA to keep consumers from making analog recordings and are thus required to pay MRT for their anti-copying software.

Seems shady to me.

NatCh · 05-14-2007, 08:32 PM

If your business plan involves, dare I say requires, getting the courts to force your customers to purchase your wares ... well ... I guess I just don't think that's a very sound business plan.

Bob Russell · 05-14-2007, 08:43 PM

A selfish, small-time lawsuit like this might be just the sort of thing to get some new laws out there (and/or reasonable interpretations of the law) to protect customer rights. This sort of strategy just might backfire.

UncleDuke · 05-14-2007, 08:48 PM

smells like snake oil to me

Moonraker · 05-14-2007, 08:57 PM

This pip-squeak company is wasting the Judiciary's time. I hope it gets thrown out and they get landed with crippling costs. But I wonder why they are doing it? Perhaps they feel it's worth it to get the publicity. They sure as hell don't think they can win?

delphidb96 · 05-14-2007, 09:35 PM

Sometimes, just sometimes, the enemy of my enemy is *NOT* my friend.

;-/

Derek

NatCh · 05-15-2007, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Sometimes, just sometimes, the enemy of my enemy is *NOT* my friend.

In those rare cases, I like to find a good vantage point and a comfortable seat, open a Henry Weinhard's Vanilla Cream Soda (my very favoritest!), then sit back and enjoy the show. Maybe pop some popcorn.

Shaggy · 05-15-2007, 09:32 AM

The general consensus I've read elsewhere is that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt. They're trying to say that MS, Apple, etc are required to use their DRM technology, because not doing so counts as a circumvention under the DMCA. They want to use the legal system to force companies to buy their technology, which is just silly.

It probably doesn't have any chance of being held up in the courts (and they probably know that), but as a publicity stunt it seems to have been quite successful. I'd never heard of them before, but they're getting coverage on a lot of forums out there right now.

HeffeD · 05-15-2007, 12:03 PM

This has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard!

You absolutely can not force anyone to buy your product! Regardless of what you think the law says...

If this makes it through even preliminary legal stages, I will be sad for the downfall of humanity.

nekokami · 05-15-2007, 12:46 PM

Even assuming it's just a publicity stunt... they've just alerted a globe full of hackers to their technology, so by the time they could possibly get anyone to buy it (and I'm not sure who would, but I suppose the Content Cartel might use their leverage to try to get the big players to go for it), it will be broken.

That's if they survive frivolous lawsuit fines.

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05-14-2007, 07:20 PM	#2
flumbo I got nothin... Posts: 127 Karma: 302 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hawaii	As I understand it, Media Rights Technology isn't interested in consumer rights. They market technology that prevents consumers from making an analog or digital recording of copyrighted works-- So you couldn't just hook up the line out to a tape recorder if their software was involved. They are suing because they feel that Apple, Microsoft, etc are required under the DMCA to keep consumers from making analog recordings and are thus required to pay MRT for their anti-copying software. Seems shady to me.

05-14-2007, 08:32 PM	#3
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	If your business plan involves, dare I say requires, getting the courts to force your customers to purchase your wares ... well ... I guess I just don't think that's a very sound business plan.

05-14-2007, 08:43 PM	#4
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	A selfish, small-time lawsuit like this might be just the sort of thing to get some new laws out there (and/or reasonable interpretations of the law) to protect customer rights. This sort of strategy just might backfire.

05-14-2007, 08:48 PM	#5
UncleDuke books & doughnuts Posts: 882 Karma: 37857 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Device: sony reader, kindle2	smells like snake oil to me

05-14-2007, 08:57 PM	#6
Moonraker Addict Posts: 314 Karma: 1002965 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: UK Device: ILiad. Gen 3, PocketBook 360, Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Oasis 2	This pip-squeak company is wasting the Judiciary's time. I hope it gets thrown out and they get landed with crippling costs. But I wonder why they are doing it? Perhaps they feel it's worth it to get the publicity. They sure as hell don't think they can win?

05-14-2007, 09:35 PM	#7
delphidb96 Wizard Posts: 2,999 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Citrus Heights, California Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V	Sometimes, just sometimes, the enemy of my enemy is NOT my friend. ;-/ Derek

05-15-2007, 09:32 AM	#9
Shaggy Wizard Posts: 4,293 Karma: 529619 Join Date: May 2007 Device: iRex iLiad, DR800SG	The general consensus I've read elsewhere is that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt. They're trying to say that MS, Apple, etc are required to use their DRM technology, because not doing so counts as a circumvention under the DMCA. They want to use the legal system to force companies to buy their technology, which is just silly. It probably doesn't have any chance of being held up in the courts (and they probably know that), but as a publicity stunt it seems to have been quite successful. I'd never heard of them before, but they're getting coverage on a lot of forums out there right now.

05-15-2007, 12:03 PM	#10
HeffeD Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 270 Join Date: Feb 2007 Device: Palm Z22	This has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard! You absolutely can not force anyone to buy your product! Regardless of what you think the law says... If this makes it through even preliminary legal stages, I will be sad for the downfall of humanity.

05-15-2007, 12:46 PM	#11
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Even assuming it's just a publicity stunt... they've just alerted a globe full of hackers to their technology, so by the time they could possibly get anyone to buy it (and I'm not sure who would, but I suppose the Content Cartel might use their leverage to try to get the big players to go for it), it will be broken. That's if they survive frivolous lawsuit fines.

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