Interesting Links for 18-03-2014

[andrewducker]

• How the Veronica Mars kickstarter used DRM to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
  (tags: drm kickstarter fail )
• US government set to give up net oversight powers
  (tags: usa INTERNET )
• What was it like to be Fred Phelps' son?
  (tags: politics religion homophobia usa )
• The Stress Of Being A Computer Programmer Is Literally Driving Many Of Them

Comments

[tobyaw]

I think it would be fair to say that it wasn’t the DRM that caused the pain to Veronica Mars fans, but rather that the studio used the most user-hostile video platform. The lesson here is to i) support distribution methods that your customers actually use, and ii) if you are using DRM, support more than one distribution platform.

Accessing videos through iTunes or Amazon is straightforward, and client software on devices does a decent job of hiding the DRM restrictions and making users feel as though they are in control of their media.

Ultraviolet, on the other hand, is an abomination that deserves to die.

[andrewducker]

I'd ask how well the Amazon DRM works on an XBox/PS3, but the answer is now "very well" since the switchover of it replacing LoveFilm!

(I don't have anything iTunes capable plugged into my TV)

[tobyaw]

With an Apple TV and a Wii U plugged into my TV, I have access to the mainstream digital distribution platforms: iTunes (via Apple TV), Amazon (via Wii U), Netflix (via Apple TV or Wii U), and pretty much anything else via AirPlay from my iPad to the Apple TV.

But I’m pretty sure I have no way of playing Ultraviolet video on my TV.

[andrewducker]

I think their basic problem is that they decided that Ultraviolet would be a standard that lots of individual companies would then implement as they see fit. So if nobody has produced an Ultraviolet player that supports your platform then there's no central point to complain to.

[strawberryfrog]

Studios like Warner Brothers are beset by conflicting forces.

One, they want to play too in the downloads arena. People obviously want this, so they want to get marketshare back from TPB.

Two, being large incumbent corporations, they want to do things on their usual terms of dictating terms and controlling access.

The net result is a predictable epic fail. I'm not sure that this circle can be squared at all.

[gonzo21]

Nope, they'd rather push ahead with complete censorship and control of the internet first. Looks a bit like they're going to succeed with that too.