NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

________________________________________
From: David P. Reed [dpreed () reed com]
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 1:41 PM
To: David Farber; Ip Ip
Subject: NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080514-nbc-vista-copy-protection-snafu-reminds-us-why-drm-stinks.html


  NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks
  <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080514-nbc-vista-copy-protection-snafu-reminds-us-why-drm-stinks.html>

By Jacqui Cheng <http://arstechnica.com/authors.ars/eJacqui> |
Published: May 14, 2008 - 11:54AM CT

Handfuls of Windows Vista Media Center users found themselves blocked
from making recordings of their favorite TV shows this week when a
broadcast flag triggered the software's built-in copy protection
measures. The flag affected users trying to record prime-time NBC shows
on Monday evening, using both over-the-air broadcasts and cable.
Although the problem is being "looked into" by both NBC and Microsoft,
the incident serves as another reminder that DRM gives content providers
full control, even if by accident.

Vista MCE users began reporting problems on Monday evening, starting
with posts on the popular DVR-enthusiast forum on The Green Button
<http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9943631-7.html?tag=nefd.top>. While
trying to record shows like /American Gladiator/ and /Medium/, Vista
users were presented with an error that read, "Recording cancelled. [TV
show] cannot be recorded. Restrictions set by the broadcaster and/or
originator of the content prohibit recording of this program." The Green
Button user justinjas posted a screenshot of the error
<http://justinjas.com/post/34602210> on his blog.

It seems the flag only triggered copy protection measures in Vista, as
one of our staffers with a DirecTV HD DVR recorded /Gladiators/ as
usual, and a TiVo spokesperson told CNet
<http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9943631-7.html?tag=nefd.top> that the
company had not received any complaints. Spokespersons from Microsoft
and NBC also told CNet that the issue was being looked into, indicating
that the broadcast flag was likely switched on by accident.

The serves as a unsettling reminder that broadcasters can give
instructions to the software built into DVRs, although they almost never
do. Many DVRs and other, similar devices appear to be aware of the
content-restriction flags set by broadcasters, even if they're not
programmed to "obey" them by default. Still, broadcasters would love to
have the power to stop users from recording their shows, watching them
later, and most importantly, skipping commercials when they do it.

Vista users aren't the only one to get hosed by broadcaster's
copy-protection flags this year. Last month, DirecTV began to limit the
window
<http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080320-directv-dvr-clampdown-a-sober-reminder-of-drm-suckitude.html>
in which users could watch recorded pay-per-view movies. Previously,
users who purchased PPV movies had unlimited time to watch their
content, but DirecTV said the movie industry wanted tighter
restrictions. As a result, DirecTV DVR owners must now watch their
movies within 24 hours of purchase (unlike rentals on iTunes, which must
be watched within 30 days of purchase, or 24 hours from the time you
press the play button), or else the content will go "poof."

Remember: DRM isn't about fighting piracy. It's about the ability to
strictly control how we consume content. Users who are interested in
pirating TV shows and movies aren't going to do so with a DVR or buy
them through PPV. They've already skipped the middle-man and gone
straight to BitTorrent with its decent-quality, commercial-less, and
DRM-free offerings. Boneheaded mistakes like the one apparently made by
NBC and Microsoft Monday night will only serve to make alternative means
of obtaining content more attractive.



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