MPAA, Consumer Groups Battle Over FCC Waiver

[ack_bak]

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/vod...c-waiver-17517

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and a coalition of consumer interest groups traded barbs Nov. 4 over an MPAA request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that, if approved, could give the movie industry power to turn off analog video outputs on consumer electronics during special VOD presentations.

The MPAA is asking the FCC to lift a 2003 ban against selectable output control (SOC), which would have allowed service operators, such as cable companies, to turn off analog outputs on consumer electronics devices, only allowing digital plugs, such as HDMI, to be used for VOD, since those can handle copy protection.

The MPAA first made its petition to the FCC in mid-2008, saying the studios wanted to partner with “multi-channel video programming distributors” to potentially deliver movies to consumers between the theatrical and DVD windows.

“Such a valuable offering necessarily would require a higher level of protection against copyright theft than is currently permissible under the Commission’s rules, and therefore requires a waiver of the current rule restricting the exercise of selectable output control,” the MPAA’s request reads.

But more than a dozen public interest groups, including Public Knowledge, the Digital Freedom Campaign, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Consumer Federation of America and the Media Access Project, are fighting the MPAA over the request, saying it puts control of privately owned consumer electronics into the hands of the movie industry, hurts TiVo and Slingbox owners, and leaves out consumers who own TVs without digital connections.

“The MPAA has failed to provide a reason as to why the limited interests of its six member movie studios should be allowed to outweigh the interests of those consumers that will be forced to replace over 20 million television sets and countless other devices in order to view content that their current equipment is capable of displaying,” the Nov. 4 letter from the interest groups reads. “Furthermore, granting the waiver effectively would allow MPAA member companies to control the types of connections and features offered to all U.S. consumers, forcing consumer electronics designers and manufacturers to agree to almost any consumer-unfriendly conditions just to display SOC content.”

But the MPAA said Nov. 4 that granting its waiver request would be “an incredibly pro-consumer development.”

“As MPAA has detailed throughout this proceeding, grant of the waiver would for the first time allow millions of consumers to view high-value, high-definition theatrical films during an early release window that is not available today,” its letter reads. “MPAA has explained that release of this high-value content as part of an earlier window, especially with respect to movies released for home viewing close to or even during their initial theatrical run, necessarily requires the highest level of protection possible through use of SOC.”

The MPAA compared the public interest groups’ objections to TV stations objecting to broadcasting in color when most TV sets were still black and white.

“Indeed, whenever innovative technologies bring consumers new and better opportunities to enjoy media content, there is always a lag between when early adopters take advantage of these opportunities and when they become ubiquitous,” the MPAA argues.

The FCC’s Media Bureau has not indicated when it will rule on the MPAA’s request.

I really hope the MPAA losses this battle. But it is just one more reason why people may be sticking to optical discs for the foreseeable future.

[JAC35]

Too early to kill analogue connections. Do this in 2012 or so.

[nextoo]

I have mixed opinions on this.

The MPAA wants to shorten the window into the home. So if they are successful then imagine being able to watch for example "The Hobbit" the day it is released in theaters in the comfort of your own home theater. It might cost something like $100+ but with 8 people watching in the home theater it could be a bargain. This is an extreme example but it gets to the point.

The MPAA will not offer this with the analog hole open.

The Movie Theater lobby is against this because they lose control.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by nextoo

I have mixed opinions on this.

The MPAA wants to shorten the window into the home. So if they are successful then imagine being able to watch for example "The Hobbit" the day it is released in theaters in the comfort of your own home theater. It might cost something like $100+ but with 8 people watching in the home theater it could be a bargain. This is an extreme example but it gets to the point.

The MPAA will not offer this with the analog hole open.

The Movie Theater lobby is against this because they lose control.

HDMI is going to be a big sticking point. Some HDTV's did not come equipped with an HDMI port prior to a few years ago and the cable and sat companies do not even give you an HDMI cable to connect your set top box to your TV. They give you component cables and composite cables (ie analog). I certainly hope the MPAA has a plan in place to ship everyone that has a cable/sat set top box hdmi cables,and instructions on how to hook it up to their HDTV and set it up properly.

[ack_bak]

And one more thing. I just have to wonder how big a deal piracy of VOD is these days with the Internet.

Nextoo, I understand your point and it makes sense, but are they forcing the majority of consumers to jump through hoops to prevent a very small minority of people from copying movies illegally via VOD?

[nextoo]

ack - yes and no. Right now nobody has access to this type of content. The MPAA won't go down the path of shortening the window to the home with the analog hole open.

If selective output is approved then those with HDMI may have access to content on release day - for example.

But it is the camel's nose under the tent.

[h0mi]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

HDMI is going to be a big sticking point. Some HDTV's did not come equipped with an HDMI port prior to a few years ago and the cable and sat companies do not even give you an HDMI cable to connect your set top box to your TV. They give you component cables and composite cables (ie analog). I certainly hope the MPAA has a plan in place to ship everyone that has a cable/sat set top box hdmi cables,and instructions on how to hook it up to their HDTV and set it up properly.

Up until last year most tvs barely had 2 HDMI ports. Too many devices, too few inputs and HDMI switchers are... notorious for issues.

[zerosaiyaman]

Originally Posted by nextoo

I have mixed opinions on this.

The MPAA wants to shorten the window into the home. So if they are successful then imagine being able to watch for example "The Hobbit" the day it is released in theaters in the comfort of your own home theater. It might cost something like $100+ but with 8 people watching in the home theater it could be a bargain. This is an extreme example but it gets to the point.

The MPAA will not offer this with the analog hole open.

The Movie Theater lobby is against this because they lose control.

Um, that's not what this is about. They are literally turning off output options on your hardware via their command when trying to stream some special video on demand from them. This is not about the content getting to your house, but from your box to your TV. That's a hellacious violation of privacy.

I for one, would never accept a company to control my hardware simply because they say so. Oh yes, so that the video can't just be captured and burned *rolls eyes*, as now it'll be encrypted over the HDMI, that may be their excuse, but their methods are draconian at best. Seriously, it's all sorts of screwed up. You bought the device, you bought their VOD service, they have no right to gimp your hardware as they see fit, when they see fit, how they see fit, for whatever content they see fit. And since this is the MPAA talking, it would affect EVERYONE.

Now, if they simply broadcast'd their VOD in a HDMI readable only encryption, that's a TOTALLY different issue, and completely fine, as that'd be no different than Blu-ray. They could totally do that, so why aren't they? Sending commands to your hardware to disable ports is f'ing BS.

[nextoo]

Originally Posted by zerosaiyaman

Um, that's not what this is about. They are literally turning off output options on your hardware via their command when trying to stream some special video on demand from them. This is not about the content getting to your house, but from your box to your TV. That's a hellacious violation of privacy.

I for one, would never accept a company to control my hardware simply because they say so. Oh yes, so that the video can't just be captured and burned *rolls eyes*, as now it'll be encrypted over the HDMI, that may be their excuse, but their methods are draconian at best. Seriously, it's all sorts of screwed up. You bought the device, you bought their VOD service, they have no right to gimp your hardware as they see fit, when they see fit, how they see fit, for whatever content they see fit. And since this is the MPAA talking, it would affect EVERYONE.

Now, if they simply broadcast'd their VOD in a HDMI readable only encryption, that's a TOTALLY different issue, and completely fine, as that'd be no different than Blu-ray. They could totally do that, so why aren't they? Sending commands to your hardware to disable ports is f'ing BS.

How does privacy come into play when the studios own the content? They made the investment. And can choose to do what they would like with it. They own it. You don't.

I'm not tracking. At all.

[nextoo]

Originally Posted by h0mi

Up until last year most tvs barely had 2 HDMI ports. Too many devices, too few inputs and HDMI switchers are... notorious for issues.

Two months ago I moved from a big house to a bigger house. Thus my lack of posting.

It took at least a month to setup numerous A/V locations. I did it myself because I enjoy the hobby. I can safely say that with all of my HDTV's I only use one HDMI input for each. Even though some have as many as five.

HDMI switchers work fine provided they have been proven and have been reported to be so by reputable users.

[h0mi]

Some of that is alleviated by buying a receiver with multiple inputs, but again... those usually had 2 inputs until last year when models came out with 4 and this year I've seen 6+.

The HDMI switches, are there specific brands you recommend? I've just heard a lot of complaints about HDMI switches (not switchers, sorry, hehe) not playing well with HDMI handshaking. If I bought 1 I'd want a remote controlled one that works with the harmonies.

[zerosaiyaman]

Originally Posted by nextoo

How does privacy come into play when the studios own the content? They made the investment. And can choose to do what they would like with it. They own it. You don't.

I'm not tracking. At all.

But they DON'T own your equpiment. You do. So they have no right to disable its functionality at their whim. You purchased their content, so they don't actually own it anymore either. Not for the single license of viewing it that once or whatever. It is yours and out of their hands for that time -- that's the whole point of paying hard earned money 9_9. And again, they do not own your stuff. It'd be no different than an ISP deciding to shut down your CD/DVD drive on your computer whenever you're on the internet, or muting your speakers on certain sites, etc.

Edit: Or how bout this. What they are proposing is similar to if you bought a car, and then the dealer said "sure, it's yours, but I can dictate where you drive it, when you can use the AC, the headlights, according to how I want you to use your car". I'm sorry, but this is wrong. Why do you think people like the EFF are all over it and trying to stop the MPAA?

[Kosty]

Isn't the issue here basically allowing Hollywood the options to force cable and sat boxes to use only the HDMI output instead of component video for some presentations?

Not that that is good, but its still not a global shutdown of component outputs for HD content.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Kosty

Isn't the issue here basically allowing Hollywood the options to force cable and sat boxes to use only the HDMI output instead of component video for some presentations?

Not that that is good, but its still not a global shutdown of component outputs for HD content.

I think the issue, for me, is that this is a bad precedence. And the fact that HDMI has been a major headache for many people in terms of handshake issues, constant spec changes, and the fact that cable/sat providers do not even give you an HDMI cable when they ship you your gear. They give you analog cables. So now the mainstream America will get pushed $100 Monster cables at Best Buy. The whole situation stinks.

This really won't impact me as I use HDMI on both my HD receivers in my house, but too be honest, I don't really pay for VOD. Not when I can typically rent better quality (Blu-Ray) for cheaper.

[luclin999]

Originally Posted by Kosty

Isn't the issue here basically allowing Hollywood the options to force cable and sat boxes to use only the HDMI output instead of component video for some presentations?

Not that that is good, but its still not a global shutdown of component outputs for HD content.

Once they open the door allowing this then they will use it as a precedent to "justify" having all HD content over analog connections disabled.

IF this is approved, then expect that they will lobby for this change as well within 12 months.