Originally posted on October 29, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
I’ve contended time and time again that present laws on copyright are outdated and should be changed or revamped in order to more accurately reflect the change in paradigms in terms of intellectual property. The old fogeys at the RIAA and its film counterpart are just being stubborn for trying to go after the fans themselves. It’s a very shortsighted solution in a battle in which they will just lose anyway. We need newer and better alternatives.
The decision of Walgreens to setup kiosks that will allow consumers to make legitimate copies of DVDs through a system that is also designed to discourage piracy is a welcome one, in my opinion.
Changes in how copy protection laws impact on DVDs have made this “experiment” viable and is encouraging not only Walgreens but also other retailers as well to allow consumers to make copies of DVDs in their stores.
This is a win-win situation for both consumers and for movie studios. Burning copies means cheaper costs, while studios also get a cut of the revenues generated for the services — and they don’t even have to spend on manufacturing and shipping costs.
The idea is already generating a lot of buzz and many people are hoping that this is going to become a success. I hope that this is going to become an important step towards the right direction.