MPAA Calls For DRM That Allows For "Managed Copying"
MPAA Chairman Dan Glickman said that the industry supported legitimate copying and called for a common ground on digital rights management technology.
Speaking at a Digital Rights Management Conference sponsored by LexisNexis and Variety magazine on Monday, MPAA's Chairman said that MPAA is "committed to delivering entertainment to consumers whenever and wherever they want?in flexible ways?on their preferred platforms and devices."
However, Glickman said that the industry remained committed to the use of digital rights management and that the "Managed Copy" option is the goal. This should be applied to both HD DVD and Blu-Ray disc formats, as well as in online downloads and streams, according to Glickman.
"We wholeheartedly support allowing consumers to make authorized copies of the content they purchase," Glickman said. "Consumers should be able to enjoy authorized DVD content on their home networks?on portable devices?at their convenience. Next, we fully and wholly embrace interoperability. We believe that consumers who come by their content legally should be able to enjoy it on any device."
Managed Copy is included in the AACS specifications for high-def formats and it would offer consumers the ability to move content from disc to PCs and portable devices, while it does not enable copying. But the feature has not yet been implemented by the HD formats. This is expected to change by the end of the year, according to Glickman.
"We expect to be able to make this happen for HD DVDs hopefully this year," Glickman said.
He added that managed Copy should be also be efficiently applied to standard DVDs.
"Standard definition may take a bit longer since we need to work with the technology community to unleash its full potential. But we are in agreement on the outcome we wish to see: Consumers should be able to enjoy authorized DVD content on their home networks?on portable devices?at their convenience."
DRM-Free Downloads by Amazon
Meanwhile, Amazon has announced that it will launch a music service in May that would allow consumers to buy DRM-free music. The decision comes just a few days after Apple's announcement to offer DRM-free music through iTunes, with the cooperation EMI.
However, Glickman said that the industry remained committed to the use of digital rights management and that the "Managed Copy" option is the goal. This should be applied to both HD DVD and Blu-Ray disc formats, as well as in online downloads and streams, according to Glickman.
"We wholeheartedly support allowing consumers to make authorized copies of the content they purchase," Glickman said. "Consumers should be able to enjoy authorized DVD content on their home networks?on portable devices?at their convenience. Next, we fully and wholly embrace interoperability. We believe that consumers who come by their content legally should be able to enjoy it on any device."
Managed Copy is included in the AACS specifications for high-def formats and it would offer consumers the ability to move content from disc to PCs and portable devices, while it does not enable copying. But the feature has not yet been implemented by the HD formats. This is expected to change by the end of the year, according to Glickman.
"We expect to be able to make this happen for HD DVDs hopefully this year," Glickman said.
He added that managed Copy should be also be efficiently applied to standard DVDs.
"Standard definition may take a bit longer since we need to work with the technology community to unleash its full potential. But we are in agreement on the outcome we wish to see: Consumers should be able to enjoy authorized DVD content on their home networks?on portable devices?at their convenience."
DRM-Free Downloads by Amazon
Meanwhile, Amazon has announced that it will launch a music service in May that would allow consumers to buy DRM-free music. The decision comes just a few days after Apple's announcement to offer DRM-free music through iTunes, with the cooperation EMI.
