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IBM patent could pause your DVD movie for adverts

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:16 pm
by Anach
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 ... nsors.html

Imagine this scenario. You've just received the latest Hollywood blockbuster in the mail from the DVD rental service of your choice. You've popped the popcorn, poured a tall glass of your favorite beverage, and settled back to watch the film on your flatscreen TV. 15 minutes or so into the movie—right as the action is building to a crescendo—the movie fades to a commercial. For the next minute, you're forced to watch the commercial as the fast-forward button has suddenly stopped working. The unhappy experience is repeated two or three more times before the movie ends. The only way to avoid the interruption is to pay another buck or two to the company you rented from

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:33 pm
by gelfling
Another good reason not to rent DVDs, imho. I don't mind if they put ads at the beginning or at the end of a film because I can mute the sound and leave the room, change the channel or just minimise the picture. Anything in between is an infringement on my human rights. Particularly the right not to be bothered by advertising unless I want to be. Anything else is spam.

I'm quite happy to use the "Pay Per View" system I have with my Satellite TV service. I just wish they had a larger catalogue of movies to choose from.

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:13 pm
by A'Ton Sands
I'm sure blockbuster will be happy with this move.

If this comes to pass, I'll make a prediction, DVD ripping will go through the roof.

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:10 pm
by Toucan
i never rent dvd's
i forget to take them back, or post them back or whatever

so if i wanna see something, i generally just buy it. usually works out cheaper :P

so as long as retail dvd's are ok, i'm ok