LG and SanDisk team up for memory card-based content protection scheme
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 14th 2009 4:15PM
posted January 14th 2009 4:15PM
It's not quite slotMusic, but it looks like SanDisk is intent on offering yet another option for memory card-bound content, and this time its enlisted the help of LG to make it happen. This setup is intended to let cellphone carriers offer content that would only be able to be used on "approved handsets" on their network, which is apparently made possible by allowing IP connectivity to the memory card in the phone, which in turn serves as a network node that is able to be remotely managed using the industry standard OMA Smart Card Web Server. That bit of magic has apparently already been demonstrated on an LG KC910 Renoir phone, but it doesn't look like there's any carriers that have signed on just yet, or at least any that are ready to announce it.[Via Phone Scoop]
Remember kids, its pronounced renWAAAAAAAA.
"Ding! Ding! Verizon here. You've exceeded your maximum number of playbacks for this file. You must purchase this song/video/whatevertheycanthinkof again to play it. Thank you for choicing Scamerizon!"
How uncool!
I don't understand why companies keep thinking up these moronic DRM schemes. It does absolutely NOTHING to protect their copyrights. The people who pirate all this stuff always break the copy protection scheme anyway (sometimes before it's officially used). It just makes consumers lives miserable.
They come up with this stuff because enough morons buy into it. So, companies see that no matter what, enough people buy it and subsidize another DRM nonsense. I'm with you though. What companies do is restrict content owners to do whatever they want with their purchased files. Yes, I own the content. I may not have a right to use it commercially or pass it as my own intellectual property. But, I can do whatever else I want with it. Sell, loan, whatever I want with it. The sad thing is that, the more time passes by, the more restrictions we get on our media. Back in the audiotape days, people made copies of their records and other tapes, and shared them with friends. None of the labels made a fuzz about it. Today it's a whole taboo and "you can't do that" nonsense. WTF??? I forgot, it's all about the might dollar, greed, and corrupt politicians. sad indeed.
I can't help but feel this is a step backward.
I'm sure this'll meet a warm consumer reception.
Right, got it: don't buy LG or sandisk devices.
I already don't buy SanDisk. I've had a few too many fail on me in the past.
Boo.
Couldn't agree with you more, Wwhat.
Sony should do the same thing ya know...
it would be like some sort of
magic kinda gateway thing
i bet they should call it MAGIC GATE!
i bet everyone will use it and not just bypass the CRAP OUT OF IT
What I find admirable with most press releases is their ability to downplay weaknesses (in this case, digital rights restrictions, err... 'protection'), and try to come across as advantageous for both the mobile network operators (MNOs, such a lovely abbreviation) AND the customer! Let me quote, for fun:
"“With this advanced technology, handset manufacturers and MNOs will be able to meet the increasingly sophisticated demands of consumers who want easy access to premium content on their mobile devices,” said Amir Lehr, senior director, business development, SanDisk.
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Easy access to premium content. This content restriction technology allows EASIER access than one without, apparently.
“The new LG KC910 Renoir highlights SanDisk’s storage-based service delivery technology that is designed to enhance an MNO’s ability to facilitate content usage in a flexible manner and lets service providers customize their method of content distribution.”
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All the while benefiting the MNO!
Win-Win?
Sign me up for some of this. I want easy!