News
Sony Says One Movie Download Is Enough
But You Can Have Another If You Ask Nicely
by Raccoonacorn
As digital distribution becomes a more viable source for purchasing games and other digital media, content protection is increasingly becoming not only a platform for media provider's cutthroat business tactics, but also a source of consumer complaints
According to an Ars Technica forum member, Sony's Playstation 3 video DRM for user purchased movies is a real stickler. Apparently, after a film is purchased, DRM allows for the film to be downloaded to a single PS3 unit and transferred onto a maximum of three PSP's. After this gracious bounty of options, however, it appears Sony feels free to lock down your content.
That's right, if you delete a movie you paid good money to purchase digitally, you are basically SOL. Now, you do get one chance to reclaim your movie, but only if you call Sony customer service so they can provide you with a “courtesy” re-download. Well, gee thanks Sony. This is a stark contrast to the unlimited re-downloads offered by Microsoft via Xbox Live.
This is a major issue of contention for downloadable media's worth. When you aren't getting a physical product, you are essentially placing your trust in a company to protect your investment. Sure, a $15 download isn't a major investment, but knowing that my media is available online is a huge safety net. I know when I purchase a game on Steam or a movie off of Live that my product will be available at any moment without requiring a call to customer service. Is this such a hard concept to grasp, Sony?
With so much media available for download, it is common to see your system’s HDD fill up rather quickly, requiring a few deletions to make space. If you have to delete a film you paid $15 for in order to purchase a new one, how difficult will it be to confirm that delete? Would you even consider purchasing another movie in the future just to lose that purchase down the road?
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Comments
this is extremely lame indeed. Bad move Sony.
You would think the collapse of Yahoo! Music and the ensuing furore about compensation would have major companies think twice about draconian DRM tactics. Oy, oy, oy.
I want to say we're seeing something of an attitude shift away from this crap, but maybe I just hang around the BoingBoing guys too much. It seems every time we turn around, another digital distribution is calling us potential thieves while they take our money.
@Mellow:
Yours is exactly the mindset that these methods of digital protection cause. They should be fostering a desire for users to purchase digital media, but instead they scare people away.
@Miss:
I think a lot of companies genuinely WANT to provide easily accessible digital content that protects the consumer's, as well as their own, interests. However, most people just can't seem to walk that line between covering their ass and not violating the consumers ass (eloquently put, I know). They should be looking to companies like Valve who have had a relatively easy time transferring their products into a digital store.
I went straight from the opening paragraph to the closing paragraph. In general I think that complete digital distribution is the wrong thing anyway. I like to have the disc. I like to be able to hold that copy in my hand. And I like that it's in my personal collection.
These digital distribution downloads are only good for music to me. I want that hard copy!
I find it humorous that most people get all worked up over these DRM issues when 90-95% of the humans out there steel, rip, share, trade, or give away digital media that they dont have the rights to. Yet, if they make/made a product and the role was reversed.....
Funny.
I prefer the physical media myself and really only use this service for rentals.
Seems to me that Sony is being cool enough to offer a second download if something unfortunate happens.
At the very worse case scenario, you can re-purchase it, unlike that whole Sing Star debacle.
If digital downloads is your thing, back it up.