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Macrovision backs DRM, responds to Jobs

updated 09:55 am EST, Fri February 16, 2007

Macrovision backs DRM

Macrovision has offered to help Apple implement its FairPlay DRM copy protection technology, saying that Apple CEO Steve Jobs' call to abandon music DRM is a bit short-sighted and misguided. In an open letter posted to its webiste, the DRM developer said it believes that the piracy is the result of poorly implemented and consumer-unfriendly DRM technologies. DRM, the company argues, is more than just a music technology, including movies, games, and software. The company has developed and implemented technologies for DRM for nearly 25 years.

The company says that DRM increases customer value by allowing them to buy specific content for specific purposes, i.e., for those customers who choose to rent movies rather than buy or simply purchase content for a specific device. Without DRM, companies would quickly lose the value of their content, diminishing the availability of high-value video entertainment, the exec claimed.

Macrovision agrees with Jobs that DRM needs to be interoperable and open, but says the complicated effort required to maintain the controls of such a system should not stop the industry from pursuing it as a goal.

"Truly interoperable DRM will hasten the shift to the electronic distribution of content and make it easier for consumers to manage and share content in the home – and it will enable it in an open environment where their content is portable across a number of devices, not held hostage to just one company's products."

Macrovision adds that DRM supporting open environments will benefit consumer electronics manufacturers by encouraging as well as enabling them to create more innovative and sophisticated devices for consumers that play late running premium content from numerous sources.

"As an industry, we can overcome the DRM challenges. A commitment to transparent, interoperable and reasonable DRM will effectively bridge the gap between consumers and content owners, eliminate confusion and make it possible for new releases and premium content to enter the digital environment and kick off a new era of entertainment."

"At Macrovision we are willing to lead this industry effort. We offer to assist Apple in the issues and problems with DRM that you state in your letter. Should you desire, we would also assume responsibility for FairPlay as a part of our evolving DRM offering and enable it to interoperate across other DRMs, thus increasing consumer choice and driving commonality across devices."

The company says the industry is on the verge of a transformation in home entertainment that could be as significant as the introduction of the PC into the home or the invention of the TV, pointing to advancements in wireless connectivity and interoperability of devices that enhance users' ability to acquire and view content from various sources.

"With such an enjoyable and revolutionary experience within our grasp, we should not minimize the role that DRM can and should play in enabling the transition to electronic content distribution. Without reasonable, consistent and transparent DRM we will only delay the availability of premium content in the home. As an industry, we should not let that happen."

 
Previous Comments

still in business?

02/16, 10:09am reply

well of course Macrovision likes DRM. I'm surprised they are still around.

climacs

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

yea...

02/16, 10:19am reply

cause there's no way to crack Macrovision.. I mean, there's no box that you could buy for $20 to crack it on VHS tapes.. :/

eldarkus

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2004

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This is just like...

02/16, 10:57am reply

... all those antivirus makers' screams that Macs will get a virus someday and we ALL better buy their s***. EFF DRM.

Z

zac4mac

Senior User

Joined: Oct 1999

0

Shocked

02/16, 11:00am reply

I can't believe Macrovision backs DRM?!? Oh, wait, that that's how they make money...doh!

But this line just kills me. "The company says that DRM increases customer value by allowing them to buy specific content for specific purposes"

Yes I want DRM, like I want my wisdom teeth pulled, again.

mgpalma

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

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Consumer-unfriendly?

02/16, 11:28am reply

I don't see how DRM can be consumer-friendly and still be a deterrent to pirates.

Their offer to "assume responsibility for FairPlay" ignores the fact that Apple is responsible because of their contract with the Big Four music companies. The Big Four surely wouldn't accept a solution that depended on third-party DRM.

Uncommon

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2000

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But it's not JUST Jobs...

02/16, 11:33am reply

But Jobs isn't alone in his call to end DRM. http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/15/1456208

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/14/1431229

So, surprise, surprise! Company that has NOTHING else to sell but licenses of its DRM technology, thinks that getting rid of DRM is bad.

Who'd a thunk it?

macs4all

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2003

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Rootkit!!!

02/16, 11:50am reply

Macrovision is the company that created the Sony CD rootkit. Why in the HECK should we listen to what they think is "good for consumers"?

Guest

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

0

in other news...

02/16, 12:13pm reply

Nestle reports that chocolate is good for you...

GORDYmac

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Dec 1999

0

Closing Up the Company

02/16, 12:53pm reply

Yea, do they do anything besides add their stick into the machinery to gum up the works? Without DRM, they will be out of business tomorrow. They are a parasite on society.

jbelkin

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2003

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re: rootkit!!!

02/16, 12:55pm reply

I didn't think I remembered Macrovision from the "rootkit debacle" so I loooked and found this:

What is on the Sony CDs? The CDs involved are loaded with a relatively new kind of content protection created by British company First 4 Internet. When a listener puts the album into a computer's CD drive, it pops up a license agreement. If the listener accepts, it installs the copy protection rootkit onto the hard drive.

Post facts or opinions, not FUD

zac4mac

Senior User

Joined: Oct 1999

0

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