coekie - Slashdot User

How Hulu, NBC, and Other Sites Block Google TV 338

Posted by Soulskill on Sunday November 07, 2010 @08:12AM from the user-agent-what dept.

Shortly after the launch of Google TV, it became clear that several networks and services were blocking access. Reader padarjohn points out a blog post from Lauren Weinstein explaining the blocking mechanisms being used and wondering why it's being tolerated. "Imagine the protests that would ensue if Internet services arbitrarily blocked video only to Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers! Or if Hulu and the other networks decided they'd refuse to stream video to HP and Dell computers because those manufacturers hadn't made deals with the services to the latter's liking." Various workarounds are being used to get around the blocks.

Comment Re:So... (Score 3, Insightful) 104

by coekie on Saturday February 20, 2010 @03:20PM (#31212024) Attached to: Tech Companies Say Don't Blame Canada For Copyright Problems

The document is mostly about the Special 301 process, but they've used the opportunity to comment on US law:

on DMCA notice and takedown:
[...] the world in the image of the DMCA, a world in which millions of automated cease-and-desist requests based on computer-generated allegations automatically trigger the blocking and take down of material, including of lawfully posted material, all without any due process or any judicial involvement.
About DRM ("rights against circumventing TPMs"):
[...] the desires of certain rightsholder constituencies which seek to ban activities that are permitted under the copyright laws through the backdoor of a digital technological lock.
wrong-headed policy; [...] cripple their own industries' innovation and damage the welfare of their own consumers.

There is nothing new to the average Slashdot reader in there; it's saying the same as many here have already ranted: DMCA is bad, DRM is not about copyright but a backdoor to gain more control over customers, and it is silly and damaging. But considering which companies this text comes from, I'd say this is some quite strong language that can not be misunderstood by US law makers.

Microsoft Disconnects Modded Xbox Users 738

Posted by timothy on Wednesday November 11, 2009 @02:31PM from the sure-it's-in-the-tos-somewhere dept.

S-4'N3 writes "The BBC reports that Microsoft has disconnected approximately 600,000 Xbox users from Xbox Live because the devices they are using have been modified, either with software or with new chips, to play pirated games. 'Microsoft confirmed that it had banned a "small percentage" of the 20 million Xbox Live users worldwide. Microsoft said that modifying an Xbox 360 console 'violates' the service's 'terms of use' and would result in a player being disconnected.'"

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