(Image from Ars Technica)
NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks
This just plan sucks. Listen, people who were going to download these shows were still going to do it anyway, and all this did (even if it was a mistake) was to screw with with the non-downloading fanbase.The exact opposite of the people you want to stop.
Although if all it stopped was people recording American Gladiators, I’m surprised anybody caught it.
I’m no expert on these things, but I still don’t see why the network just don’t give away downloadable content, and just throw up the occasional ‘lower 3rd’ ad on the screen. You could still charge for the ads, and it would be part of the show so no one would skip past it. Hell, it would be no worse then all the dancing crap they throw on the bottom of the screen when you’re watching the show at home.
The people who watch shows at home on TV are still going to do so, and all you would be doing is givng an ad suported video to people who were going to go get in on Bittorrent anyway.
Again, I’m no expert, but it would seem like you would be making money from a market where you weren’t before, and probably adding to your fanbase to boo.
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