Playstation 3 Video DRM Only Allows One Download 316
Nom du Keyboard points out an Ars Technica report that the Sony Video Store on the Playstation Network is running some rather restrictive DRM. When purchasing movies, users are allowed just one download — even if they delete the movie to make space and want to download it again on the same machine. A Sony representative told Ars that users could be issued an extra download as a "one-time courtesy" with help from customer support. Quoting:
"When we're discussing a system that seems to release new hardware configurations every few months and a company that actively encourages you to swap hard drives yourself, it appears users are going to run into problems if they ever decide they want to switch out their hard drive or even upgrade into a larger system; the information on the back-up utility makes it clear that video content can't be moved over to new system, although new hard drives should be safe. Sony claims that the PS3 is operating on a 10-year timeline: is one extra download, which you need to contact customer service to apply for, good enough for the next decade?"
Rental only (Score:5, Interesting)
As long as they clearly mark this as a rental, I'm OK with it. As soon as they describe it as a sale, then I think they're conducting felony fraud and should be prosecuted criminally.
Re:How is this surprising? (Score:5, Interesting)
Its news because not only is it DRM, but its poorly implemented. Steam and the 360 let you delete stuff you've bought and download it later. I can go to a friend's house, log in to my account on his xbox, and I'm able to download things I've bought.
The only reason this isn't really big news is because its something they can fix fairly easily.
Re:Rental only (Score:4, Interesting)
If this item is broken, then yes they are required to replace it.
What happens if your PS3 stops working?
Steam = DRM I can live with (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Rental only (Score:3, Interesting)
Well Sony are the makers of Securom, and also made a DRM for DVD's (ARCOS) that rendered the disks unplayable on their own devices. I bought a movie with ARCOS for my nephews and it wouldn't play. I had to take said DVD and make a rip of it purely so they could watch the movie I bought for them on their Sony DVD player.
So crap like this no longer surprises me and is why, despite being a huge Metal Gear and Gran Turismo fan, I will not be buying a PS3.
Re:Less value for my money (Score:1, Interesting)
Wrong. If you're so worried about it, move the files to an external USB drive (yes, the PS3 provides the option) and backup the files off of that. It's not rocket science.
Re:Rental only (Score:3, Interesting)
Except bandwidth isn't free. How many 4GB downloads should I allocate per customer? Should I factor that into the cost of the item? When you purchase something, should I factor in a lifetime of bandwidth usage by the customer?
Of course, you hit the nail on the head - you must be able to backup. Not having a backup (and this is probably the case given that the PS3 is encrypted) is stupid. Although, I think given "online activation" DRM seems to be the rage these days I don't think they have a problem with the user burning the content to a DVD for later. I think the fair thing to do is be very up front with the customer as to what the download policy is.
Re:Oliver Twist anyone? (Score:4, Interesting)
How can a first post be modded Redundant?
In this particular case, you're right, that shouldn't have been made redundant. That said, it's totally possible for a first post to be redundant. Here are a few examples:
"I just want a cell phone that only makes calls!"
"Does it run Linux?"
"Video game companies do this because you're all thieves!"
"...frickin shark!"
"George Lucas sucks."
"I hate the iPhone, so everybody else should too."
... and so on. There's a lot of repetitive noise here that doesn't become fresh just because it's in a different thread. This doesn't apply in your case, but it could a year from now when somebody carbon copies your post when another company has a policy like this.
Re:Oliver Twist anyone? (Score:3, Interesting)
It would be interesting to see how thing would work if we increased the range allowed from -1 to 5, to say -10 to 50.
Re:So STUPID! (Score:3, Interesting)
Some are bad...SecuROM is absuively bad, and similar to what you describe.
But a lot of games with extensive add-ons have to talk to the internet a lot. If you buy WoW, you can just set up an account, add the keys, and download the entire game...This'll take a bit, even with their bittorrent interface.
Steam is basically the same thing applied to non-MMOs. You make a steam account, you attach your games to it, and anywhere you log in with that account, you can download and install your games. No more keeping up with keys or media. In a lot of ways, I think it's better than the traditional CD system, because of the whole media/keys issue, though obviously it's still inferior to pirating the game.
Still, I'd rather pay for the game, and if it's not abusive, I'm perfectly willing to do so.
Fair Use as a requirement of copyright protection? (Score:3, Interesting)
I think for the full weight of the law to protect copyright, an original work must be provided in such a way that the right of first sale exists and/or "fair use" is preserved.
If neither of these exists, then the "IP" will not be protected by copyright.
Does anyone want to start a political movement?
Re:Rental only (Score:2, Interesting)
So if I pay for an iTunes download of an album, I'm entitled to copy a friend's CD?
Interesting.
Re:Rental only (Score:2, Interesting)
EA replacement costs:
# PC-CD products: $13.00 USD
# PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, or Xbox 360 products: $20.00 USD
# Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, or Sony PSP products: $15.00 USD
# Sony PlayStation products: $15.00 USD
# Nintendo Gameboy, Gameboy Color, or Gameboy Advanced products: $15.00 USD
# Jewel Case Classics products: $7.50 USD
# Manual (Documentation) replacement: $5.00 USD
More than I expected, but less than it could have been.