Linux as a Multimedia machine - DRM etc.

[speedsix]

I'm relatively new to linux so am a little unsure exactly how things work in the world of open source and free software, especially when it comes to the patent encumbered world of multimedia.<BR><BR>Basically I have set up a multimedia system based around MythTV.<BR><BR>I use this mainly for the following activities<BR><BR>1. Recording and playback of digital terrestrial tv (UK DVB-T).<BR><BR>2. Listening to digital audio ripped from my own cds<BR><BR>3. Watching DVDs and rips of my own dvds.<BR><BR><BR>Now even though I only use my own paid for media I can imagine I'm still treading on dubious ground legally speaking here. Playback of encrypted dvds for a start. <BR><BR>Now I enjoy using my system in the way that I do and I pay for all my own content but I can imagine in the not too distant future, some/all of the above will be very difficult due to various restrictions such as DRM etc.<BR><BR>For example, sometime in the uk we'll get HD terrestrial tv, will I be able to record that straight to disk? Will I be able to keep the files as long as I want? Will I be able to skip the commercials etc.?<BR><BR>Obviously there will be similar issues with the new HD movie/music formats. Will I legally be allowed to rip my content to hard disc etc?<BR><BR><BR>Now getting onto my main point which is where I'm a little lost. This is linux, MythTV is written by a bunch of very clever chaps that could no doubt make all of the above possible, but what would be the implications of doing such?<BR><BR>What is stopping the developers making it so I don't have to use a HDMI cable to play HD movies or that I can record and duplicate digital tv as I see fit? <BR><BR>Basically what I'm asking (and I am genuinely clueless here) What are the implications of opensource developers bypassing DRM restrictions in future and infact current formats?<BR><BR><BR>Thanks<BR><BR>Dom

 

[shurik]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I can imagine I'm still treading on dubious ground legally speaking here. Playback of encrypted dvds for a start. </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Open-source software uses DeCSS to play encrypted dvds. Thanks to the EUCD* and the DMCA, <I>distributing</I> DeCSS is technically illegal in both EU* and US. However, <I>possession</I> of DeCSS is still completely legal in many countries (I don't know about Britain).<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">sometime in the uk we'll get HD terrestrial tv, will I be able to record that straight to disk? Will I be able to keep the files as long as I want? Will I be able to skip the commercials etc.? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Almost certainly. There already exist devices that break HDMI. Once HDMI becomes popular, such devices will probably become cheap and widely available. Of course, they will also most likely be illegal...<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Obviously there will be similar issues with the new HD movie/music formats. Will I legally be allowed to rip my content to hard disc etc? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Depends on whether that's considered fair use in your country. In the US, the RIAA has been making noises that ripping a CD to hard drive is not fair use, but the RIAA is a cabal of nutjobs. Rich, influential nutjobs.<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">This is linux, MythTV is written by a bunch of very clever chaps that could no doubt make all of the above possible, but what would be the implications of doing such? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>If the developers of MythTV live in the US, EU*, or Australia, it's fairly likely that they are breaking the law. Apart from that, they are also open to lawsuits from various companies and organizations (e.g. regarding patents for the codecs they use).<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">What is stopping the developers making it so I don't have to use a HDMI cable to play HD movies or that I can record and duplicate digital tv as I see fit? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Their code will be immediately forked.<BR><BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Basically what I'm asking (and I am genuinely clueless here) What are the implications of opensource developers bypassing DRM restrictions in future and infact current formats? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Writing or distributing code bypassing DRM is already illegal in the US and the EU*; some EU countries have, or are planning, even stricter laws. In practice, today, at least the US usually turns a blind eye to the distributors of DeCSS. Just because something is illegal does not imply that the police will choose to prosecute you for it. Perhaps in the future, enforcement of DMCA and EUCD will become stricter; perhaps it won't. Pretty much depends on lobbying, press coverage, and popular opinion.<BR><BR>All that said, it never hurts to be paranoid.<BR><BR><BR>*note on EUCD and EU: not all EU countries have implemented the EUCD yet. However, it's pretty much certain that all are eventually going to implement it.

 

[.劉煒]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">For example, sometime in the uk we'll get HD terrestrial tv, will I be able to record that straight to disk? Will I be able to keep the files as long as I want? Will I be able to skip the commercials etc.? </div></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>On a practical level, yes.<BR><BR>On a personal ethical level, I don't have a problem.<BR><BR>On a legal level, well, YMMV.

 

[drag]

Legally it's very difficult. Most everything you'll see on the subject is fairly U.S. specific.<BR><BR>In the past there hasn't been legal restrictions on using custom devices to receive television/radio broadcasts and it's been fine to record shows for private playback in the U.S.<BR><BR>But times are a changing as the RIAA and friends think they can make money by screwing over their customers.