Sony offers fix for broken DVDs

For those still living in the 90's and having problems with Sony's ARccOS copy protection scheme for DVDs, Sony has updated the system and is offering replacement discs to those who request them. Some studios just won't give up on DRM, and while CSS and more recently AACS have been compromised, they continue to look for ways to "protect" their content. As in any cat-mouse-game, you have to constantly adapt to stay in the game -- so you can bet that this won't be the last time Sony updates this format. If you are one of the few watching DVDs on an incompatible player, do yourself a favor and call in to get a replacement disc, or if even if you don't have one and just want to chat about DRM for a bit.

[Via Slashdot]

[Liqwid @ Apr 18th 2007 2:53PM]

The only way to protect is to not protect.

[Josh @ Apr 18th 2007 3:05PM]

[Insert obligatory condom joke here]

[sycks @ Apr 18th 2007 3:10PM]

I think Sony learned when people start complaining, start fixing and fast...

[SumYungGai @ Apr 18th 2007 3:12PM]

With the exception of Sony TV's and projectors (i.e. Ruby), Sony are just such 'tards these days. They're fighting tooth and nail to hold on to their BluRay dream like a Chihuahua trying to run on ice and praying they don't have a repeat of BetaMax/VHS (they will) by bribing retailers into only putting out BluRay cardboard displays and stock by giving crazy margins on Sony electronics; you've got them losing money hand over fist with the abysmal PS3 and its lack of games, you've got them beating their chests that BluRay has won the HD format war yet one manufacturer after the next (i.e. Samsung latest) keep announcing DUAL-FORMAT players, you've got their batteries blowing up in laptops, and you've got their movie division losing money because the japanese overlords don't know or understand the Hollywood movie industry. God be with you, Sony.

[sycks @ Apr 18th 2007 3:32PM]

Except that Sony is not losing money hand over fist...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6551591.stm

And please don't just read it as predictions that profits will increase six-fold. The stock itself actually reached a 5 year high. All that money spent on the PS3 is called R and D.

"..yet one manufacturer after the next (i.e. Samsung latest) keep announcing DUAL-FORMAT players.." There's been 2, LG and Samsung. LG's is not a fully licensed player, and Samsung and Toshiba have been partners for quite some time now (Look up TSST).

I'm done for now, let me know if you have any other mindless dribble to spew.

Fanboys and/or ignorant people make me laugh.

[sycks @ Apr 18th 2007 3:32PM]

Damn skippy, FUCK DRM.

[Leiterfluid @ Apr 18th 2007 3:51PM]

@sycks

I liked how the article used the term "yen hole."

[sycks @ Apr 18th 2007 3:59PM]

Indeed, makes you wonder if the editor wrote that with a smile.

[Jerry @ Apr 18th 2007 3:57PM]

Sony, you're more entertaining than your stars are. You've brought us suspense, thrills, tears, rage and laughter. All of this for free. It just can't get any better. I mean, selling consumers DVDs which technically DVDs at all, but out of spec plastic discs of pits in them. Who knows what they are really. I just can't wait for the class action law suit when the owners of the DVD licensing decide you're not following the DVD specs and shouldn't be selling plastic discs with the DVD logo stamped on them.

Previously, you humored many consumers by installing root kits on their computers without their knowledge... I won’t complain about the batteries exploding, since you didn’t do that on purpose. But this is great stuff Sony.

I'm waiting to see what's in store for us consumers next! Or what will you do when your BluRay licensees decide to alter how they produce BluRay discs so they can thwart copying.

My suggestion is for you to stop pretending to sell CDs and DVDs since the only way to stop copying is to stop selling anything to copy!

[SuperChuck @ Apr 18th 2007 4:02PM]

I would be curious to see if the replacements will be more easily rip-able.

[walk2k @ Apr 18th 2007 4:17PM]

Woo now maybe the fanbots will stfu for 30 seconds.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 18th 2007 4:20PM]

Well, aren't you the optimist?

[Megumatron @ Apr 18th 2007 5:31PM]

To SumYungGuy -- If you really think that Sony was pressing BETA onto developers, then you obviously have a serious skewed view of how consumer electronics work. The consumer drives the industry. Sony owned BETA, and they refuse (still to this day) to liscence their media for uses that could produce pornography. And because a disgusting amount of human beings push for their porn, the VHS explosion began. Another thing that you can see this from is one reason the internet is so successful.

I am not going to say that the ONLY reason that things are the way they are is because of porn, but it cannot be denied that there is an incredible amount of people that drive the pronographic industry.

Sony is not, in the manner that you so blindly suggested, pushing BluRay onto anyone. The media is there and the consumer will decide. Will Jane Doe, who finally converted her VHS family archive to DVD, purchase a BluRay unit and make the conversion? Probably not. But the consumer drives the results of the Consumer Electronics industry.

[SumYungGai @ Apr 18th 2007 5:50PM]

"Sony owned BETA, and they refuse (still to this day) to liscence their media for uses that could produce pornography"

Isn't ironic then that a stat came out a few weeks ago with Japan and China at the top of the list as the biggest porn watching/consuming countries.

[Megumatron @ Apr 18th 2007 5:55PM]

That may be the case (based on your "stat"), but you can rest assured that Sony isn't the one that is promoting the process by creating media on which to record it.

[Trent @ Apr 19th 2007 11:15AM]

Should never have broken in the first place.

DRM sucks.

No I don't pirate.

[bob @ Apr 21st 2007 3:53PM]

Theres no way to completely protect the dvds. If its presented on a screen it can be recorded.