[John Corn]

It appears five couch potatoes will have their day in court.

In a surprise decision Friday, a judge in Los Angeles combined two lawsuits that aim to combat an attempt by the major networks and film studios to cripple consumer electronics manufacturer Sonicblue's ReplayTV ( news - web sites) devices, which allow television viewers to skip commercials.

The Hollywood companies say the devices infringe on their copyrights by letting users build up libraries of TV shows, send shows to other users via the Internet and skip past commercials.

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[MarkA]

"The Hollywood companies say the devices infringe on their copyrights by letting users build up libraries of TV shows, send shows to other users via the Internet and skip past commercials."

WOW! I can do all that with my VCR (well, I need to use my computer to send shows over the internet). What's so special about this box? That's what I've never understood. How is a PVR, legally, different from a VCR? Perhaps someone with some legal knowledge could answer this?

 

[Jacob S]

To them it is different in that it has a MUCH better picture quality enabling them to have a really good quality in the copy that they make and sending over the internet, the same or near same quality as you get when you rent or buy at the stores.

 

[MarkA]

To them, yes. I asked LEGALLY. I don't believe the VCR was decared legal by the supreme court because the quality is bad Besides, will they outlaw TV tuners for computers next? Or video capture totally? I can get a capture as good as a TiVo, in MPEG2 and everything, through my ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500 card.

 

[Nick]

This has only recently become an issue because digital technology provides the means with which to control the use of content. The analog VCR does not.

It has nothing to do with whether the VCR was/is "legal" or not.

 

[invaliduser88]

Next thing you know Hollywood will want to implant I chip in your brain to allow them to erase the memory of a movie or tv show because they have come to the conclusion that the memory of a movie or tv show in the brain is a violation of their copyright.

 

[Nick]

Maybe that's why the video rental guy keeps asking why I rent the same movie over and over again.

(Actually I haven't rented a movie in over two years, ever since I got Dish's AEP.)