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Posts from — November 2005
BitTorrent and MPAA Reach Agreement
BitTorrent and the MPAA reach an agreement under which unlicensed copyright movies will be expeditiously removed from BitTorrent.com's recently launched search engine
Sources: Wired | ZDNet | Reuters | BBC | The Register | Los Angeles Times | Forbes
Related Posts:
- BitTorrent to Purchase µTorrent (December 8, 2006)
- BitTorrent Signs More Download Deals with Major Hollywood Movie & TV Studios (November 30, 2006)
- Techcrunch » BitTorrent Raises $25 Million (November 29, 2006)
- Warner Bros. and BitTorrent Partner to Download Movies (May 9 2006)
- BitTorrent and MPAA Reach Agreement (November 23, 2005)
Categories: Agreements, BigMedia v P2P Providers, Milestones, Settlements, iVOD/iTV
Digg 
Del.icio.us Will Unauthorized TiVo-iPod recording tech bring out the lawyers?
TiVo did not obtain ABC or Apple’s prior-approval for this feature. It could adversely impact ABC’s recent arrangement with Apple to make TV shows available for download to iPods for a fee.
Sources: ZDNet | Financial Times
Categories: Digital TV, New Tech, iVOD/iTV
New TiVo Function to Copy TV shows onto iPods and Sony PSP Devices
TiVo Inc. is expanding its video recording service so users will be able to transfer recorded TV shows onto Apple Computer’s iPods or Sony’s PlayStation Portable.
Sources: Forbes | CED | New York Times | Los Angeles Times | PVR Wire | CNN | ABC News | TVPredictions.com | GameSpot | Joystiq | GamaSutra
Categories: Digital TV, New Tech, iVOD/iTV
Texas Sues Sony BMG for ’spyware’ on CDs
Texas alleges that the company "surreptitiously" installed spyware on personal computers through music CDs with a copy protection program contrary to Texas Anti-Spyware law.
Sources: Red Herring | Associated Press | Reuters | Business Week | ABC News | Washington Post | Financial Times
Related Posts:
- Sony Settles Rootkit Lawsuit with 40+ U.S. States for $5.75M (and Climbing) (December 27, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit Settlement Faces Opposition in Canada (September 19, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit DRM Settlement Passes Final Legal Hurdle (May 23, 2006)
- Sony Settles Class Action Law Suits over Rootkit DRM (December 29, 2005)
- Texas Saddles Another Claim on Sony (December 23, 2005)
- My Morning Jacket Burns New CDs for Fans Replacing Sony's CDs with Rootkits (December 15, 2005)
- Texas Sues Sony BMG for 'spyware' on CDs (November 21, 2005)
- Sony folds Tent, Recalls CDs (November 16, 2005)
- Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse (November 15, 2005)
- Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology (November 11, 2005)
- Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM (November 10, 2005)
- Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM (November 3, 2005)
Categories: Cases, Intrusive TPMs - Rootkits
Microsoft and Cablelabs Agree on Cablecard Integration into Windows Media Centre
Microsoft and CableLabs have announced an agreement to bring CableCard access to the PC, along with the ability to share it with connected devices (like the Xbox 360).
Dale's Comment: This will, of course, only work in jurisdictions where cable providers use cable-card technology in their headends. While required of all major cable companies in the U.S., Canada does not yet (nor will it ever likely) mandate such cable-card compatibility.
Sources: Yahoo! News | HD Beat | PC World | Multichannel News | CED Magazine | Cable Digital News
Related Posts:
- FCC Chairman Declares No More Blanket CableCARD Waivers (January 12, 2007)
- TiVo Continues to Fight the Good CableCARD/Integration Ban Fight (October 19, 2006)
- CableCARD Primer (February 6, 2006)
- Microsoft and Cablelabs Agree on CableCARD Integration into Windows Media Center (November 16, 2006)
- FCC Releases 12th Annual Report on the Status of Competition in the Video Programming Market (March 3, 2006)
Categories: Big Media Makes Progress, Digital TV, Milestones
TiVo to Conduct Video Download Trial
After TiVo/Netflix iVoD venture fails due to lack of content owner co-operation, TiVo to conduct first Internet video download trial.
Categories: iVOD/iTV
Sony Folds Tent, Recalls CDs
Sony BMG, yielding to consumer concern, said on Wednesday it was recalling music CDs containing copy-protection software that acts like virus software and hides deep inside a computer.
Sources: Wired | MSNBC | CNN | ABC Online | PC Magazine | BBC | New York Times | ZDNet
Related Posts:
- Sony Settles Rootkit Lawsuit with 40+ U.S. States for $5.75M (and Climbing) (December 27, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit Settlement Faces Opposition in Canada (September 19, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit DRM Settlement Passes Final Legal Hurdle (May 23, 2006)
- Sony Settles Class Action Law Suits over Rootkit DRM (December 29, 2005)
- Texas Saddles Another Claim on Sony (December 23, 2005)
- My Morning Jacket Burns New CDs for Fans Replacing Sony's CDs with Rootkits (December 15, 2005)
- Texas Sues Sony BMG for 'spyware' on CDs (November 21, 2005)
- Sony folds Tent, Recalls CDs (November 16, 2005)
- Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse (November 15, 2005)
- Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology (November 11, 2005)
- Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM (November 10, 2005)
- Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM (November 3, 2005)
Categories: Intrusive TPMs - Rootkits
UK Inquiry into DRM and the Law
The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) is to hold a public inquiry into the issues surrounding Digital Rights Management (DRM), including the degree of protection needed for both copyright holders and consumers.
Sources: The Register | APIG
Categories: Copyright, DMCA-like Laws, DRM Analysis, International Legal Reform, New Tech, Policy Analysis
Big Media’s Recent iMedia Efforts
In the first 15 minutes of this podcast, the Engadget guys discuss the latest NBC/DirecTV and CBS/Comcast interactive media initiatives.
Source: 
Click Here to Listen to the Podcast
Categories: Big Media Makes Progress
Sony Denies PS3 single-machine DRM
Based on a recently secured Sony patent, there has been much speculation that Sony would use DRM technology to make PS3 games playable on only one console - thus eliminating game rentals as a possibility. Today Sony officially denied this.
Sources: BoomTown.net | PS3 Today | MaxPS3.dcom | joystiq
Categories: DRM Restricting Use, DRM as Market Lock
Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse
Researchers says software removal scheme aggravates security hole.
Source: MSNBC
Related Posts:
- Sony Settles Rootkit Lawsuit with 40+ U.S. States for $5.75M (and Climbing) (December 27, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit Settlement Faces Opposition in Canada (September 19, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit DRM Settlement Passes Final Legal Hurdle (May 23, 2006)
- Sony Settles Class Action Law Suits over Rootkit DRM (December 29, 2005)
- Texas Saddles Another Claim on Sony (December 23, 2005)
- My Morning Jacket Burns New CDs for Fans Replacing Sony's CDs with Rootkits (December 15, 2005)
- Texas Sues Sony BMG for 'spyware' on CDs (November 21, 2005)
- Sony folds Tent, Recalls CDs (November 16, 2005)
- Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse (November 15, 2005)
- Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology (November 11, 2005)
- Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM (November 10, 2005)
- Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM (November 3, 2005)
Categories: Intrusive TPMs - Rootkits
Music Industry’s New Piracy Crackdown
The IFPI has launched 2,100 new legal cases in Europe, Asia and South America.
Source: ZDNet - Reuters
Categories: BigMedia v. P2P Users
Digital Rights Mismanagement
How Apple, Microsoft, and Sony cash in on piracy prevention by using it as an anti-competitive, anti-consumer means to lock customers in. All the while, a threat of legal sanctions hang over anyone wanting to break, or anyone willing to assist them in breaking, those locks to move their ‘purchased’ content to a competitive platform or service.
Source: Slate.com
Categories: Antitrust, DRM Analysis, DRM as Market Lock, Policy Analysis
Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology
Stung by continuing criticism, the world’s second-largest music label, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, promised Friday to temporarily suspend making music CDs with anti-piracy technology that can leave computers vulnerable to hackers.
Sources: MSNBC | engadget | Financial Times | Forbes | USA Today | San Jose Mercury News | CNET | CBS News
Related Posts:
- Sony Settles Rootkit Lawsuit with 40+ U.S. States for $5.75M (and Climbing) (December 27, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit Settlement Faces Opposition in Canada (September 19, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit DRM Settlement Passes Final Legal Hurdle (May 23, 2006)
- Sony Settles Class Action Law Suits over Rootkit DRM (December 29, 2005)
- Texas Saddles Another Claim on Sony (December 23, 2005)
- My Morning Jacket Burns New CDs for Fans Replacing Sony's CDs with Rootkits (December 15, 2005)
- Texas Sues Sony BMG for 'spyware' on CDs (November 21, 2005)
- Sony folds Tent, Recalls CDs (November 16, 2005)
- Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse (November 15, 2005)
- Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology (November 11, 2005)
- Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM (November 10, 2005)
- Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM (November 3, 2005)
Categories: Intrusive TPMs - Rootkits
Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM
The suit claims that around June 2005, Sony BMG began to issue some CDs that install digital rights management software that continuously monitor for rights problems, depleting a computer's available resources … the technology cannot be removed without damage to the system and that Sony BMG does not advise consumers of the existence or true nature of the program.
Sources: Red Herring | Wired
Related Posts:
- Sony Settles Rootkit Lawsuit with 40+ U.S. States for $5.75M (and Climbing) (December 27, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit Settlement Faces Opposition in Canada (September 19, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit DRM Settlement Passes Final Legal Hurdle (May 23, 2006)
- Sony Settles Class Action Law Suits over Rootkit DRM (December 29, 2005)
- Texas Saddles Another Claim on Sony (December 23, 2005)
- My Morning Jacket Burns New CDs for Fans Replacing Sony's CDs with Rootkits (December 15, 2005)
- Texas Sues Sony BMG for 'spyware' on CDs (November 21, 2005)
- Sony folds Tent, Recalls CDs (November 16, 2005)
- Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse (November 15, 2005)
- Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology (November 11, 2005)
- Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM (November 10, 2005)
- Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM (November 3, 2005)
Categories: Intrusive TPMs - Rootkits
RIAA Lobbies Congress Again - This time to Limit Digital Radio Recordings
RIAA lobbies for a new “HD Radio Content Protection Act“. It would require device makers to implement “functionality” to automatically delete your recordings after a certain amount of time.
Related Story: Sirius and XM in Hot Water for Recording Capability
Categories: Lobbying, Satellite Radio
Korean Soribada P2P Site Shut Down After Court Verdict
A Korean, P2P Network, Soribada, was shut down after its Central District Court to enjoined the service at the behest of the Korean Association of Phonogram Producers (KAPP — the equivalent of the RIAA in the US). A lower Korean court had previously cleared Soribada of wrongdoing.
Sources: DRM Watch | Chosun | The Register | afterdawn.com
Categories: BigMedia v P2P Providers, Injunctions, Police Actions
Grokster Shuttered in Court Settlement
Text of Supreme Court Grokster Decision
File-sharing software vendor, Grokster, agrees to permanent injunction against copyright infringement after its recent U.S. Supreme Court loss.
Sources: PC World | MSNBC | Washington Post | San Jose Mercury News | L.A. Times | CNet | DRM Watch
Related Posts:
- One Year After Grokster Decision: File Sharing Continues Unabated (June 27, 2006)
- Grokster Shuttered in Court Settlement (November 7, 2005)
- U.S. Supreme Court Finds Grokster Liable (June 27, 2005)
- Grokster & Streamcast Win Major Court Victory (August 9, 2004)
Categories: BigMedia v P2P Providers, Injunctions, Settlements
TV on Demand From NBC, CBS — But Not For iPod
NBC and CBS unveiled separate plans on Monday to make some of their hottest prime-time shows available for viewers to watch at their leisure — without commercials — for 99 cents an episode, throwing open the door to “on-demand” television.
Sources: Reuters | Wired
Categories: iVOD/iTV
RIAA Lobbies Congressional Action to Address ‘Inequities’ in Digital Radio Marketplace
Sources: RIAA | PDF Text RIAA Congressional Testimony
Categories: Lobbying, Satellite Radio
Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM
Sony is criticized for including root-kit software as part of its CD copy protection. Root kit software is installed on your computer without your knowledge. Root-kit software often causes system problems. No tools to uninstall are provided by Sony. RootkitRevealer can be used to detect and remove it
Sources: Washington Post | The Inquirer | Security Now Podcast
Related Posts:
- Sony Settles Rootkit Lawsuit with 40+ U.S. States for $5.75M (and Climbing) (December 27, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit Settlement Faces Opposition in Canada (September 19, 2006)
- Sony Rootkit DRM Settlement Passes Final Legal Hurdle (May 23, 2006)
- Sony Settles Class Action Law Suits over Rootkit DRM (December 29, 2005)
- Texas Saddles Another Claim on Sony (December 23, 2005)
- My Morning Jacket Burns New CDs for Fans Replacing Sony's CDs with Rootkits (December 15, 2005)
- Texas Sues Sony BMG for 'spyware' on CDs (November 21, 2005)
- Sony folds Tent, Recalls CDs (November 16, 2005)
- Fallout from Sony CD Flap Getting Worse (November 15, 2005)
- Sony Bows to Pressure and Abandons DRM Rootkit Technology (November 11, 2005)
- Sony Faces Class Action Law Suit over Rootkit DRM (November 10, 2005)
- Sony Caught using Rootkit DRM (November 3, 2005)
Categories: DRM Restricting Use, Intrusive TPMs - Rootkits
FCC Modifies Digital Tuner Requirements to Advance DTV Transition
Text of Second Report and Order
Text of FCC Press Release
The FCC amended its rules to move the date on which all TV receivers must include the capability to receive digital television signals forward four months to March 1, 2007 and to apply the tuner requirement to all television receivers, regardless of their size.
Source: DTV Design Line
Related Posts:
- Bush Signs Digital TV Transition Bill - Setting February 17, 2009 Deadline (February 8, 2006)
- Broadcasters to Move to Digital Television by February 17, 2009 Under Senate Bill (December 21, 2005)
- U.S. Digital Switchover on Feb 17, 2009? (December 19, 2005)
- FCC modifies Digital Tuner requirements to advance DTV transition (November 3, 2005)
- House Approves All-Digital OTA Deadline by 2008 (October 27, 2005)
Categories: Digital TV, FCC
RIAA v. The People
PDF: RIAA v. The People
It’s been two years since the RIAA started suing music fans who share songs online. Thousands of Americans have been hit by lawsuits, but both peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and the litigation continue unabated.
Source: EFF
Categories: BigMedia v. P2P Users, Policy Analysis