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HBO CTO says DRM needs a name change

13 May 2007 17:57 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 11 comments

According to a report in Broadcasting & Cable, HBO CTO Bob Zitter has said that he believes that consumers would most likely accept the concept of DRM if it was called something different.

Zitter feels the technology should be marketed in a way that would let users feel they could "use content in ways they haven't before." He suggests the term "Digital Consumer Enablement" instead.

The term, "DCE", could be used to describe HBO's upcoming high-definition digital content although some believe the new "DCE" by HBO will not be compatible with control mechanisms build into current TVs.

Those beliefs have led Freedom to Tinker engineer Ed Felten to make the following comment: "So what HBO wants is to disable the analog outputs on the set-top box, so consumers have no choice but to adopt HBO's favored DRM. Which makes the nature of the 'enablement' clear. By enabling your set-top box to be incompatible with your TV, HBO will enable you to buy an expensive new TV. I understand why HBO might want this. But they ought to be honest and admit what they are doing."

Im sure "DCE" sounds good to the greedy CTO but to us consumers it sounds like more of a rip off.

Source:
BetaNews

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Discuss this article!
pstamer (Member) 13 May 2007 18:43
DRM is DRM dude. It sux ass period. The sooner you do away with it the happier all of us will be. [ + quote]
duckNrun (Member) 13 May 2007 21:45
Hey! Here's an idea that based upon the mindset of this article regarding semantics this CEO should 100% behind: Let's stop using the word PIRACY and start using the words FAIR USE... Now that's a bandwagon I'd like to see these media execs jump on! [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 13 May 2007 22:48
Originally posted by pstamer: DRM is DRM dude. It sux ass period. The sooner you do away with it the happier all of us will be. Totally agree with this. Some may fall for this but come on a name change is trying to rebadge a bad product and trying to sell it again its not a good idea. [ + quote]
pigfister (Inactive) 14 May 2007 0:59
lets just call it what it is! "cocksuckers unite" mpaa and RIAA Sony Pictures, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Buena Vista (The Walt Disney Company), Paramount Pictures (Viacom - bought DreamWorks in Feb06), EMI, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Universal Music Group, Warner Bros. (Time Warner) and Warner Music Group. [ + quote]
AlmostOz (Junior Member) 14 May 2007 2:05
Originally posted by duckNrun: Hey! Here's an idea that based upon the mindset of this article regarding semantics this CEO should 100% behind: Let's stop using the word PIRACY and start using the words FAIR USE... Now that's a bandwagon I'd like to see these media execs jump on! haha awesome call~! anyone who has to deal with DRM is techy enough to recognise it no matter what you call it. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 14 May 2007 5:26
god are suits that caught up in branding and marketing and "in name only" crap? Mmmm I guess thats a yes since half of all gaming and movies are auto fail.... [ + quote]
DVDdoug (Junior Member) 14 May 2007 10:22
That guy should work for Sony... Or maybe Microsoft... Reminds me of "Plays For Sure." Note to media companies: This kind of thing just makes consumers mad, and it makes your already-bad image worse! Why can't I record this? ... Because it's "enabled." Companies with good-smart marketing (i.e. Apple) would never make the mistake of naming something the opposite of what it really is! "DRM" is bad enough. Digital Rights "Management"? How about Digital Rights "Limitation"? Or, let's just call it "copy protection". [ + quote]
pigfister (Inactive) 14 May 2007 10:55
Originally posted by DVDdoug: "DRM" is bad enough. Digital Rights "Management"? How about Digital Rights "Limitation"? Or, let's just call it "copy protection". the reason is that DRM is in the media so much that it is effecting sales and the O9 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 fiasco just propelled it into the media limelight again so if they can swindle the sheep by changing the name! [ + quote]
Unfocused (Junior Member) 15 May 2007 17:01
Sound like DRM has entered the witness protection program. New name and everything. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Not that DRM is sweet, but same concept. "Digital Consumer Enablement?" Sounds more like Digital Consumer Disablement. [ + quote]
nate1969 (Newbie) 19 May 2007 18:31
Sounds like ol Bob Zitter and George Bush have gotten together and Bush has taught him about the good ol redirection/misdirection. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19 May 2007 18:31
spydah (Junior Member) 19 May 2007 20:18
nate1969 _ Sounds like ol Bob Zitter and George Bush have gotten together and Bush has taught him about the good ol redirection/misdirection. Lol to funny. If thats the case then Georgio must have sent Bob his speech writer. Nothing like make to fools look stupid lmao. [ + quote]