PS3 video service to use open standards?
For those feeling too locked down by Xbox Live and Apple TV's restrictive DRM policies, there is a ray of hope, as the LA Times notes the PlayStation 3's yet-to-debut but still due in '08 online video service could be based on "open standards" with an eye towards multiple device compatibility. Sony might not usually be the name we'd associate with relaxed copy protection, but with several standard (Bluetooth, SATA, DivX etc.) technologies already finding a home on the PS3, we're cautiously optimistic. Now, Sony, tell us what we want to hear about all HD downloads and background transcoding for copy to portables.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ceilingfanboy @ Apr 22nd 2008 6:31PM
I wouldn't be surprised if this just ends up meaning that the videos will work on the PSP...not that that would be a bad thing.
Galley @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:13PM
The iTunes Store uses open standards as well. It's the music and movie industries that insist on locking down the files with DRM.
MegaZone @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:40PM
'Open Standards' doesn't mean 'no DRM' - see also SyncTV, which is built on open standards, works on multiple platforms, and has DRM - based on open DRM standards. :-)
Hmm, maybe Sony is working with SyncTV?
loosely_coupled @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:30AM
Does anyone else sort of think that the term "open standards" doesn't necessarily imply DRM-free?
Mark @ Apr 23rd 2008 8:40AM
I find it implausible that they will use open standards for movie rentals. The content will be encrypted and DRMed, even if it uses H264 or MP4-Pt2 under the crypto.
If they offer movie ownership then maybe open formats are a smart thing to do. Watermark the content so you know who bought it and then let the users do what they like with it. Will it happen though? I don't see the industry letting it happen.
Joe T. @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:12AM
Watermarking is goint to come back in a big way. Recent court decisions (in NY, IIRC) have shown that in order to bring a successful suit against someone, the rights holder must show that a downloader "made available" the media for others to download, which can be more difficult that what one might think. The way to positively do this is via active watermarking any streamed media with a unique watermark that can be traced to the person who first streamed the media.
Watch for this technology showing up in DVRs, where every program that goes onto the hard drive is watermarked with the user's account number (or similar).
Sony is hedging their Blu-Ray bet and joining Vudu, Apple, XStreamHD (a tech I really like) and Blockbuster. They have an advantage in being a media owner and having forged content relationships with other studios in their successful negotiations during the HD DVD battle.
conor @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:06PM
yeah...