[mythtv-users] MS media center

Christopher Meredith chmeredith at gmail.com
Sat Feb 27 04:35:26 UTC 2010


On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 9:23 PM, Michael T. Dean
<mtdean at thirdcontact.com> wrote:
> On 02/26/2010 09:58 PM, Christopher Meredith wrote:
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 8:51 PM, Michael T. Dean wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> On 02/26/2010 09:32 PM, jedi wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 05:19:45PM -0800, Chris Petersen wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Christopher Meredith wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> [deletia]
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I won't get into anything specific about mc2xml, but I can assure
>>>>> you that MS and TMS don't think too kindly about unauthorized users
>>>>> accessing the system.  Some of us at SD don't like it either because
>>>>> it propagates the sentiment that people in open source community
>>>>> have no respect for intellectual property.  There is an inexpensive
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>     I was under the impression that this fellow already has standing
>>>> to use the data in question. He has it because he "owns" a copy of a
>>>> product that includes access to that data as a part of a bundle.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-media-center/privacy-windows7-terms-of-service.aspx
>>> -----
>>> Windows Media Center electronic programming guide terms of service
>>> ...
>>> The Microsoft software product identified above, which includes computer
>>> software and may include associated media, printed materials, "online" or
>>> electronic documentation, and Internet-based services (the "Product")...
>>> ...
>>> Use of the Electronic Programming Guide Service. The EPG may only be
>>> accessed with an authorized personal computer using the Product.
>>> -----
>>>
>>> and these go way back--here's for older versions:
>>>
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/privacy/default.mspx
>>>
>>
>> Yes. All are agreed that it violates the TOS. The point is, so what?
>> I'm not a party to it so what does it matter?
>>
>>>>
>>>>     However, I agree that he should just buy the real thing direct for
>>>> himself because it's not terribly expensive to begin with.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Yeah, plus it helps support the community, and it's definitely
>>> legal/licensed/... for use with MythTV.  And--for those of us who care
>>> about
>>> that kind of thing--it shows respect for the great deal of time, effort,
>>> and
>>> expense that TMS goes through to compile all this data without which
>>> MythTV
>>> is useless.
>>>
>>
>> It's not my intention to quibble unnecessarily, but MythTV is
>> perfectly usable without the copyrightable portions (descriptions).
>
> Where those copyrightable portions, TTBOMK, are still copied when using
> mc2xml.
>
>>  I
>> really don't understand the resistance that always seems to accompany
>> attempts to get simple listings without paying a monthly fee.
>
> My only resistance is to the taking (stealing) of those listings in direct
> violation of Terms of Service and/or laws.
>
> I have absolutely no problem with someone's calling up their local
> broadcasters every single day and asking them to read their programming
> schedule to them so they can type it into their computer or even copying the
> facts from the television listings published in the newspaper.  IMHO,
> though, if you're using the compilation of the data that someone else has
> gone to great effort and expense to acquire, you should be willing to pay
> for that service they provide (or at least use the data within the terms
> they ask)--especially when that service costs as little as $20 per year.

While I respect your opinion, it simply highlights that this is what
it really boils down to: one person's opinion over another. And I will
point out again that if downloading EPG data is "stealing," so is any
use of a DVR that is not strictly "time shifting." Saving or archiving
recordings, or even watching them more than once, is a technical
copyright violation. (The landmark Supreme Court Betamax cases cover
only time shifting, not repeat viewings and certainly not archival).
After all, the studios undertake far more effort and expense to
produce movies and TV shows than to write one-sentence descriptions of
them. Does that mean we should take the content solely as its offered
and capitulate to every condition the providers place on it? If we're
morally obligated to pay for SD instead of using mc2xml, we're also
morally obligated to watch TV commercials. After all, it's the least
we can do to show our gratitude for all the labor.


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