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> At this moment Netflix is refusing to server 1080p video content to anyone who uses a free operating system and free browser, because 'the DRM isn't good enou

> At this moment Netflix is refusing to server 1080p video content to anyone who uses a free operating system and free browser, because 'the DRM isn't good enough'. For 4k the rules are even more stringent; you need Microsoft Windows, Edge, and pre-approved trusted-platform capable hardware (which includes the monitor/TV). Hahahah, amazes me how people still use that crap. Why not pirate it instead and give them a big fuck you with those restrictions?

Freak_NL 9y ago
Because it is a fiendish dilemma. Most people are fine to obligingly use proprietary apps on approved operating systems to gain access to the content, so if you care about remunerating content producers, and watching the media by means of open technologies that work on any modern operating system, then supporting Netflix is currently one way to do so. But you are right, the downside is that my account is effectively limited to 720p because of complete non-sense. The sad thing is that any competition (e.g., Amazon Prime) appears to follow the same rules as far as I can tell: sure, you can use your browser, for now, but nothing over 720p for you until you run our software outside of that sandbox of a browser on a verified trusted operating system. I'm not sure where my point of rejection of this deal lies.
briandear 9y ago
So stealing is ok? Who pays for that content you pirate?
- andrepd 9y ago
  Copying is not stealing.
- quadrangle 9y ago
  It's freeriding not stealing. Same sense as burglary is not murder or as obnoxiousness isn't assault etc. So freeriding is ok? Who pays for creating that content you enjoy? See, now we have a useful phrasing that actually can be discussed and brings up real issues.
- khedoros1 9y ago
  I've never deprived someone of something they own or committed any kind of mayhem on the high sea. Generally, I pay for whatever content I download. I'd have to do some research to figure out how to rip a Netflix stream or export recorded video from my DVR. Ripping DVDs (and especially Blu-Rays) takes a bunch of time, and encoding the result can be hard to get right (embedding subtitles, choosing a codec and profile that works on most of my devices, etc). It's easier and faster to torrent it than do all the ripping and conversion myself. Not that I do it much anymore; I suspect that format-shifting wouldn't be a good legal defense. And I also suspect that my ISP (the only high-speed one in the area) would dump me as a customer at some point.
  - posterboy 9y ago
    > embedding subtitles shame on you, good thing you aren't doing it either way ;) > I suspect that format-shifting wouldn't be a good legal defense you seem to imply by analogy to homerecording, torrenting stuff you once payed for (or didn't directly as with yt) might be ok, but sure enough, taperecordings were campaigned against, too. Btw: I worry about codec and network exploits, so easy is not the exact term I would choose wrt torrents and p2p-"sharing".
    - khedoros1 9y ago
      > shame on you, good thing you aren't doing it either way ;) srt's in the container, not hard-overlaid into the video ;-) We've got asshole neighbors. They'll purposefully rev their Ferrari to wake my kid up if they hear the TV (e.g. sound is up enough to easily understand a whispered conversation, then there's a bass-heavy explosion). Then there's the less-common use-case of watching a movie on a plane without blasting the audio. > you seem to imply by analogy to homerecording, torrenting stuff you once payed for (or didn't directly as with yt) might be ok, but sure enough, taperecordings were campaigned against, too. Tape recordings don't involve automatic sharing of the data with other people in the swarm as an implementation detail. I did a fair amount of downloading 8-15 years ago, but mostly dropped it when I started working.
andrepd 9y ago
That's what I do, with zero remorse. They are killing the web to make bigger sacks of money. Fuck me if I'm going to feel bad about pirating the everliving shit out of their content.

Freak_NL 9y ago

Because it is a fiendish dilemma. Most people are fine to obligingly use proprietary apps on approved operating systems to gain access to the content, so if you care about remunerating content producers, and watching the media by means of open technologies that work on any modern operating system, then supporting Netflix is currently one way to do so. But you are right, the downside is that my account is effectively limited to 720p because of complete non-sense. The sad thing is that any competition (e.g., Amazon Prime) appears to follow the same rules as far as I can tell: sure, you can use your browser, for now, but nothing over 720p for you until you run our software outside of that sandbox of a browser on a verified trusted operating system. I'm not sure where my point of rejection of this deal lies.

briandear 9y ago

So stealing is ok? Who pays for that content you pirate?

andrepd 9y ago
Copying is not stealing.
quadrangle 9y ago
It's freeriding not stealing. Same sense as burglary is not murder or as obnoxiousness isn't assault etc. So freeriding is ok? Who pays for creating that content you enjoy? See, now we have a useful phrasing that actually can be discussed and brings up real issues.
khedoros1 9y ago
I've never deprived someone of something they own or committed any kind of mayhem on the high sea. Generally, I pay for whatever content I download. I'd have to do some research to figure out how to rip a Netflix stream or export recorded video from my DVR. Ripping DVDs (and especially Blu-Rays) takes a bunch of time, and encoding the result can be hard to get right (embedding subtitles, choosing a codec and profile that works on most of my devices, etc). It's easier and faster to torrent it than do all the ripping and conversion myself. Not that I do it much anymore; I suspect that format-shifting wouldn't be a good legal defense. And I also suspect that my ISP (the only high-speed one in the area) would dump me as a customer at some point.
- posterboy 9y ago
  > embedding subtitles shame on you, good thing you aren't doing it either way ;) > I suspect that format-shifting wouldn't be a good legal defense you seem to imply by analogy to homerecording, torrenting stuff you once payed for (or didn't directly as with yt) might be ok, but sure enough, taperecordings were campaigned against, too. Btw: I worry about codec and network exploits, so easy is not the exact term I would choose wrt torrents and p2p-"sharing".
  - khedoros1 9y ago
    > shame on you, good thing you aren't doing it either way ;) srt's in the container, not hard-overlaid into the video ;-) We've got asshole neighbors. They'll purposefully rev their Ferrari to wake my kid up if they hear the TV (e.g. sound is up enough to easily understand a whispered conversation, then there's a bass-heavy explosion). Then there's the less-common use-case of watching a movie on a plane without blasting the audio. > you seem to imply by analogy to homerecording, torrenting stuff you once payed for (or didn't directly as with yt) might be ok, but sure enough, taperecordings were campaigned against, too. Tape recordings don't involve automatic sharing of the data with other people in the swarm as an implementation detail. I did a fair amount of downloading 8-15 years ago, but mostly dropped it when I started working.

andrepd 9y ago

That's what I do, with zero remorse. They are killing the web to make bigger sacks of money. Fuck me if I'm going to feel bad about pirating the everliving shit out of their content.