Zediva Shut Down By Federal Judge, MPAA Parties! 189
AlienIntelligence writes "Looks like the loophole that Zediva founded their business model on evaporated. Zediva's biggest problem was getting over a 1991 ruling against a similar method of transmitting copyright works. Zediva has vowed to appeal the ruling."
Re:Zediva clearly forgot the Golden Rule (Score:5, Interesting)
it is.. but it sure helped get a bunch of former RIAA lawyers (five so far) elected to positions in the Obama Administration...
Judge's ruling pro-biz, anti-law (Score:4, Interesting)
The 12-page injunction took issue with nearly every argument Zediva made in its defense, and even went further, arguing that since Zediva's users could occasionally encounter movies that were "out of stock," consumers would be confused about how streaming video services work, potentially ruining the market for Hollywood.
Oddly, Martin also argued that Zediva's service, which charges per movie, could cause "confusion or doubt regarding whether payment is required for access to the Copyrighted Works."
Re:so... (Score:5, Interesting)
It's an odd situation in general. Rent DVD from blockbuster, take it home and play it = legal.
Rent DVD player and DVD from blockbuster, hook up to your TV and play it = legal.
Leave DVD player at blockbuster but run really long video cable to your TV is untested, but the length of the video cable doesn't seen legally relevant (even if it is a technical problem).
Now, treading ever further into untested waters, same setup but you just call Blockbuster and rent the DVD and get an employee to play it in the DVD player you left there.
Next up, multiplex the video cable with other communications. Still doesn't seem relevant. Video cables that include ethernet channels aren't illegal.
Rent the common multiplexed communications cable from someone else. Why not, you're renting the player and the DVD, why not the cable?
Now, connect a digitizer at your end and watch on the computer. Shouldn't matter, it's not illegal to do that on a home theater.
Finally, move the digitizer to blockbuster's side of the rented multiplexed communications cable. Fundamentally, you're still renting a DVD and a player from Blockbuster and watching it at home, but somehow it has magically become illegal according to the judge. What part makes it illegal now? Is it legal as long as you burn a gallon of gas in the back yard so you can do your part in the pollution effort?