Final Major Network Blocks Google TV

Fox has become the latest to join in on blocking access to Google TV.  Every major U.S. TV network has blocked Google TV from accessing content on their websites and on their partner sites Hulu and PlayOn.  Users and TV providers will be locked in a game of cat and mouse finding ways to get around this blackout.  Until this dispute is resolved, Google TV will not be able to gain mass acceptance.

EU Rules Against Piracy Tax On Media Devices

ipodnn reports the European Court of Justice has ruled that EU countries cannot charge consumers levies on gadgets that play digital content.  This would apply to the iPod and other mp3 players, smartphones, printers and other electronic equipment.  The law was originally created to help compensate digital rights owners from people using blank media to pirate content.  It was quickly adopted to gadgets and assumed all users of the devices were pirating material.  The ruling still needs to be codified by the European Commission but we are keeping our fingers crossed for our friends in Europe!

TV Networks Blocking Web Content To Google TV

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that television networks ABC, CBS, and NBC are blocking content to Google TV.  The networks have content that is viewable on the web and some mobile devices, but they are reluctant to allow people to integrate the web content with traditional TV viewing.  The dispute centers around the network's ability to monetize their web content.  Currently, broadcast TV generates more revenue that web-based content, so the networks do not want to cannibalize broadcast TV viewers.

MPEG LA Makes H.264 Royalty Free For End Users

In a move that should help HTML 5 adaption, MPEG LA has decided to allow H.264 video playback to be royalty free.  H.264 is one of the proposed specs for HTML 5 video for streaming online content.  Unfortunately, for-profit content providers will still need to pay licensing fees to use this technology. 

 

Press Release: 

For Immediate Release

CONTACT:

Tom O’Reilly MPEG LA, LLC Tel: 303.200.1710 Fax: 301.986.8575 toreilly@mpegla.com

MPEG LA’s AVC License Will Not Charge Royalties for Internet Video that is Free to End Users through Life of License

(DENVER, CO, US – 26 August 2010) – MPEG LA announced today that its AVC Patent Portfolio License will continue not to charge royalties for Internet Video that is free to end users (known as “Internet Broadcast AVC Video”) during the entire life of this License. MPEG LA previously announced it would not charge royalties for such video through December 31, 2015 (seehttp://www.mpegla.com/Lists/MPEG%20LA%20News%20List/Attachments/226/n-10-02-02.pdf), and today’s announcement makes clear that royalties will continue not to be charged for such video beyond that time. Products and services other than Internet Broadcast AVC Video continue to be royalty-bearing.

MPEG LA's AVC Patent Portfolio License provides access to essential patent rights for theAVC/H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) digital video coding standard. In addition to Internet Broadcast AVCVideo, MPEG LA’s AVC Patent Portfolio License provides coverage for devices that decode and encode AVC video, AVC video sold to end users for a fee on a title or subscription basis and free television video services. AVC video is used in set-top boxes, media player and other personal computer software, mobile devices including telephones and mobile television receivers, Blu-rayDiscTM players and recorders, Blu-ray video optical discs, game machines, personal media player devices and still and video cameras.

For more information about MPEG LA’s AVC License or to request a copy of the License, please visit http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/AVC/Pages/Intro.aspx .

Apple May Start To Detect Unauthorized iOS Devices

MacRumors reports Apple has been granted a new patent (application # 20100207721) for detecting unauthorized users of electronic devices.  The patent is generating controversy about how Apple plans to use the technology, if they decide to do so. I believe Apple may already be using this idea with the find my iPhone feature.  Through Apple's MobileMe service, users can locate lost iPhones via GPS & WiFi data.  Additionally, users can permanently lock their phones, so their data cannot be stolen.

There is some fear that Apple may use the technology to disable jailbroken devices.  It may not be in Apple's best interest to do this.  How else will Apple continue to add features users want without being able to "borrow" them from the jailbreak community.

One of the more scary ideas about this patent is the spy camera function.  If the device's location is trying to be determined and all available data is being gathered, there are some privacy concerns about the photos that may be taken with the built in camera.  Hopefully, malware authors do not find a way to activate this system and start taking photos of users in all kinds of situations.

At this time, there is no need to panic.  There should be discussions held about how Apple and other vendors intend to implement this type of technology.  There should be limits set to ensure consumer's privacy is not compromised in an effort to "protect them".

Magazine Subscriptions Come To The iPad

Apple and Time Inc. have agreed to allow print subscribers free access to the iPad version of People Magazine, according to a report from CNNMoney.  Other Time Inc. magazines such as Time, Sports Illustrated, and Fortune are expected to adopt the same model within the next 30 days.  

With this new policy change, expect other publishers to ask for the same deal from Apple.  Hopefully, subscriptions for all magazines will be available on the iPad very soon.

Oracle Files Patent and Copyright Infringement Complaint Against Google

Oracle has filed a complaint against Google for copyright and patient infringement in the development of the Android operating system.

"In developing Android, Google knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related intellectual property. This lawsuit seeks appropriate remedies for their infringement," said Oracle spokesperson Karen Tillman.

Oracle acquired Java when they purchased Sun Microsystems in April 2009.

Ukrainian Authorities Shut Down Kickass Torrents

TorrentFreak reports that popular torrent site Kickass Torrents has been taken down by the Ukrainian authorities.  The site was shut down after their hosting provider, Mhost, was contacted with concerns about the site's activities.  The torrent site's founders are currently relocating their servers outside the Ukraine and hopes to have the Kickass Torrents back up within the next few days.  This practice has become common with torrent sites; as soon as a government shuts it down, it reopens in another country.

DMCA Updated To Allow Mobile Phone Mods & Limited DVD Copying

Every three years, the Librarian of Congress reviews the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998.  If needed, the DMCA is modified to reflect changes in technology.

This year the DMCA has been updated with the following changes: 

• DVD decryption/copying - Users are now permitted to decrypt the CSS encryption on a DVD and use part of the content in educational use, documentary film making, or non commercial videos (hello Youtube).


• Jailbreaking Rooting Mobile Phones - Modifying mobile computing devices such as the iPhone to enable additional operability and install 3rd party programs (jailbreaking) is now permitted.


• Video Games - Video game encryption can be bypassed to test the game or to correct a security flaw.


• eBook Accessibility- eBooks that have the read aloud function disabled can have this function turned back on if all versions of the book have the function disabled.

Since I am not a lawyer, I can only interpret the changes as I read them.  Please take time to review the original document yourself and if this impacts you, you may want to consult an attorney for further clarification.