DVD's and competition policy.

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: No DMCA in Canada <canada-dmca-opponents (at) flora.org>
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 09:37:50 -0500 (EST)

(Sorry, but the far-right-wing *grins* Free Market promoter feels the need 
to step in ;-)

On Sat, 6 Apr 2002, Kristofer Coward wrote:

> In order to prevent to complete bit-for-bit copying of the entire DVD
> (including region code) recordable DVDs and DVD recording drives are
> divided into 2 classes: those which can write CSS/Region code
> information, and those on which it is already prewritten.


  We need to always remind ourselves that CSS has nothing at all to do
with illegal copying.  Those that do bulk copying will do so with the
identical copying tools that the so-called "legitimate" distributors will
use.

  See: http://www.opendvd.org/myths.php3


  DVD-CSS is entirely a technology to (illegally, IMO) attempt to give
specific monopolistic content distribibutors control over the DVD player,
burner and blank-media markets (Illegal under tied selling) and to
restrict trade in DVD movies (to allow them to price-fix in different
regions) and related tools (players, burners and blank media).  It also
tries to circumvent fair dealings in copyright and other rights related to
private copying.


See some of the past notes at:
  http://www.flora.org/dmca/forum/75
  http://www.flora.ca/copyright-2001-cmpda-reply.shtml

Note that most open source players and DVD-ROMS allow one to set the
region, thus nullifying the control attempted through region codes.



  It should be obvious that this technology (or any other technology that
has the purpose of creating a monopoly) does not benefit independent
creators.  This is why competition laws make tied selling and restrictions
in trade illegal - to try to ensure fair competition that includes
independent entrepreneurs and not just monopolies and cartels.


  It was understood when these laws were first crafted that real
innovation always came from the independents and not the established
players in a given market.


---
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