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Obama's Gift To British Prime Minister Rendered Useless By DRM
techdirt ^ | 3/20/9 | Carlo Longino

Posted on 03/20/2009 10:46:53 AM PDT by bimboeruption

A few years back, it emerged that US Senator Ted Stevens had been given an iPod by his daughter, and it had changed the way he saw the RIAA and the measures for which it lobbied.

It's always seemed to me that once politicians -- at least those not beholden to the entertainment industry -- experienced the stupidity and frustration of the locks and controls that groups like the RIAA and MPAA put on content and want backed up by law, they'd realize they were little more than attempts to frustrate consumers and prop up outmoded business models.

Maybe the UK is prepared for a similar political inflection point: its Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was recently given a gift of 25 DVDs of classic American movies by US President Barack Obama. When Brown sat down to watch one of them, he found he couldn't -- because Obama had given him Region 1 DVDs, unplayable in Brown's Region 2 DVD player.

The pointless DRM didn't stop any piracy, it prevented an absolutely reasonable use of legitimately purchased content. Maybe this experience will help the British government understand how many of the entertainment industry's efforts to strengthen intellectual property controls do little more than irritate legitimate consumers in the name of supporting failing business models.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: bho44; bhouk; blunders; british; brown; dvd; gordonbrown; obama; regiononecds
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"Maybe the UK is prepared for a similar political inflection point: its Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was recently given a gift of 25 DVDs of classic American movies by US President Barack Obama. When Brown sat down to watch one of them, he found he couldn't -- because Obama had given him Region 1 DVDs, unplayable in Brown's Region 2 DVD player."

The most intelligent and caring president in the history of American screws up yet again.

1 posted on 03/20/2009 10:46:54 AM PDT by bimboeruption
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To: bimboeruption

Lololololololol...


2 posted on 03/20/2009 10:48:20 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (ALSO SPRACH ZEROTHUSTRA)
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To: Psycho_Bunny

TOTUS didn’t give barry the right guidance that day. The batteries must’ve been weak that day.


3 posted on 03/20/2009 10:52:11 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Christian and armed)
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To: bimboeruption
Did 0bama also send a DVD to the Chinese leaders entitled "Flee Wirry?"

aka, Free Willy

4 posted on 03/20/2009 10:52:12 AM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys: Can't fly, can't ski, can't drive, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best.)
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To: bimboeruption

...So they kick up another $150 for a portable Region 1 DVD player, and a outlet conversion kit...


5 posted on 03/20/2009 10:55:31 AM PDT by DGHoodini (God's gonna getcha!)
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To: bimboeruption
We should be so lucky... At some point maybe "our" media will not play well for Obama, no matter what the format...
6 posted on 03/20/2009 11:03:22 AM PDT by taildragger (Palin / Mulally 2012)
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To: bimboeruption

But...but...Zero is only human...he’s a new president...he’s apt to make mistakes...yadda yadda yadda.


7 posted on 03/20/2009 11:03:32 AM PDT by LottieDah (If only those who speak so eloquently on the rights of animals would do so on behalf the unborn)
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To: Psycho_Bunny; freekitty; romanesq; justiceseeker93; brushcop; 2ndDivisionVet; unkus; SouthTexas; ...

What an American disgrace—this whole Administration and the morons that put them in power. That sound you hear is all the American patriots going back to 1776 rolling in their graves in disgust!


8 posted on 03/20/2009 11:06:00 AM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
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To: bimboeruption

So I guess Obama and his ENTIRE administration must be ZONE 2... Because they have been USELESS the whole time they have been in the White House!!! Can we please get a president who is Zone 1 and agree’s with the American people?? I know for a fact Sarah Palin or Fred Thompson would be Zone 1 and fully compatible with the American Public!


9 posted on 03/20/2009 11:08:17 AM PDT by jakerobins
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To: ExTexasRedhead

They are a disgrace.


10 posted on 03/20/2009 11:08:38 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: bimboeruption
You can buy all region DVD players ... it'll detect what region is wanted to be played. You can buy them here.

http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/dvdorig.htm

11 posted on 03/20/2009 11:10:01 AM PDT by SkyDancer ('Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not..' ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: bimboeruption
A note to Obama:

I resent your HORRIFIC and MEANINGLESS GIFT to the British Prime Minister.

How dare you do this in our name.

Please call him and apologize for your lack of graciousness, your lack of knowledge on correct etiquette when welcoming a foreign dignitary and get your arrogance fat half - black arse into presidential mode and STOP bankrupting our nation.

12 posted on 03/20/2009 11:10:14 AM PDT by Republic (Jedem das Seine)
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To: ExTexasRedhead

What an American disgrace—this whole Administration and the morons that put them in power. That sound you hear is all the American patriots going back to 1776 rolling in their graves in disgust!
___________________________

These idiots must have no fear of God.

What they are doing is pure EVIL.


13 posted on 03/20/2009 11:16:16 AM PDT by unkus
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To: bimboeruption

Shoulda sent 8 tracks.


14 posted on 03/20/2009 11:16:27 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Did Obozo’s teleprompter pick out the gift or was it Geithner or Dodd?


15 posted on 03/20/2009 11:22:18 AM PDT by Ev Reeman
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To: Republic
A note to Obama:

I resent your HORRIFIC and MEANINGLESS GIFT to the British Prime Minister.

How dare you do this in our name.

Please call him and apologize for your lack of graciousness, your lack of knowledge on correct etiquette when welcoming a foreign dignitary and get your arrogance fat half - black arse into presidential mode and STOP bankrupting our nation.

I agree. Barry and his staff are tasteless idiots.

This is worse than dyeing the White House fountain green for the American-Irish vote.

16 posted on 03/20/2009 11:26:22 AM PDT by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: bimboeruption
I would be willing to bet money that barry soetero or barack obama or whoever that flim flam man is in our Oval Office will not be making any errors when the first terrorist or leader of a terrorist sponsoring nation visits our White House. I bet the administration goes all out to make sure the gift is appropriate and honorable.

Obama is a pig. No, a monkey, he REALLY looks like one, unlike GW who was always likened to one, and worse, obama ACTS like one. Just plain rude.

17 posted on 03/20/2009 11:32:52 AM PDT by Republic (Jedem das Seine)
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To: Republic
I would be willing to bet money that barry soetero or barack obama or whoever that flim flam man is in our Oval Office will not be making any errors when the first terrorist or leader of a terrorist sponsoring nation visits our White House. I bet the administration goes all out to make sure the gift is appropriate and honorable.

Right! The red carpet will be rolled out and $100.00 a pound beef will be served on gold plates along with the finest of wines.

And who knows what the gifts will be? The Hope Diamond, an original copy of the Constitution, the state of Hawaii, five-hundred 12 year old white girls? Nothing is too good for our raghead friends.

ALL at OUR expense.

18 posted on 03/20/2009 11:50:49 AM PDT by bimboeruption (Clinging to my Bible and my HK.)
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To: jakerobins

As clueless as the MSM claimed W was, neither he nor his staff did anything as stupid as this in their first 60 days.


19 posted on 03/20/2009 11:59:19 AM PDT by 12Gauge687 (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)
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To: bimboeruption
Well...you had me absolutely howling with laughter at the. Hope Diamond suggestion, but the white girl comment laid me out.....too funny !!! (in a sick way, of course!)
20 posted on 03/20/2009 12:34:10 PM PDT by Republic (Jedem das Seine)
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