Creative Disables FM Recording In Zen
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The latest firmware update for the Zen Vision:M sneaks in a “feature update” that’s sure to tick off most of its users who decided upon buying the device due to its FM tuning and recording capability. The update disables recording, so even though you can listen to FM radio on your Zen Vision:M, you can’t record it anymore.
The removal of the FM recording feature is a result of potential violation of copyright. Queries to tech support were replied to by saying that the “FM recording feature is removed due to licensing issues.”
Is this the first domino to fall in a series that could probably wipe out the existence of big name products that record media such as DVD recorders, hard disk drive-based PVRs, and even cassette recorders, if anyone still buys those?
Source: Tech2 -
Actually, I think the RIAA must have used some underhand methods to force creative to do this.
Coz the only copyright infringement here is authorising infringement or, in the US, vicarious/concurrent(?) liability. But then by analogy to the VCR cases, creative is unlikely to be liable.
Something really really stinks here.
I think its time consumers world wide stood up to the RIAA already. -
Licensing or potential violations of copyright issues, it has been expected.
Especially since Creative is working hand in hand with Apple, I somehow expect RIAA to be involved in this. Directly or indirectly. -
Are they gonna ban VCRs for their ability to record movies next?
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But its being played on air! Public radio stations should be taken to court or forced to shut down too.
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my O2 can still record...
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YOu dun understand...this issue has been thrashed out in court in relation to VCRs 20 years ago. And the law still stands! Why would creative decide to piss off their customers en masse to protect themselves from an unlikely lawsuit?Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:Licensing or potential violations of copyright issues, it has been expected.
Especially since Creative is working hand in hand with Apple, I somehow expect RIAA to be involved in this. Directly or indirectly. -
Maybe I don't understand. 20 years ago I wasn't even born yet.Originally posted by scabstermooch:YOu dun understand...this issue has been thrashed out in court in relation to VCRs 20 years ago. And the law still stands! Why would creative decide to piss off their customers en masse to protect themselves from an unlikely lawsuit?
Even when the possibility of something happening is low, businesses will still do it. Why risk doing something and lose lots of money when it's not needed? -
Because creative is trying to capture the mp3 player market from apple?
Its a risk management issue and indications are that there isn't much risk. Hence, my suspicion that RIAA must have done some very very serious lobbying somewhere or used some other form of underhand methods.
Bloody RIAA is acting like the mafia! -
It's unlikely that Creative will start fighting with Apple again over the MP3 market.Originally posted by scabstermooch:Because creative is trying to capture the mp3 player market from apple?
Its a risk management issue and indications are that there isn't much risk. Hence, my suspicion that RIAA must have done some very very serious lobbying somewhere or used some other form of underhand methods.
Bloody RIAA is acting like the mafia! -
so you mean creative will not be bothering with its mp3 players anymore?
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No. I only mean that they won't fight against each other.Originally posted by scabstermooch:so you mean creative will not be bothering with its mp3 players anymore? -
Why not? They are after all competitors in the same market.
In any case, this is really besides the point. The point is Creative is in the business to earn money, and its portable music players have not been doing very well/as well as expected. With that in mind, I think it is strange that Creative would premptively bend over and attract this bad press. -
i dun even update my firmware
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heng...lucky me is oni zen neeon
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Hmm - on 2nd thoughts, might it have to do with the fact that in Aust, Kazaa was found guilty of aithorsing copyright infringement?
Maybe they looked at the legal position and decided that the winds of change were blowing? Hmmm..... -
the next thing, we can't play songs on our own instruments
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A more interesting issue would be whether they were cheating hte customers by listing the FM recordability as part of the features and now taking it out.
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HUH? Radio only leh???
Why cannot record? So does THAT means we cannot record channel 8, channel 5, etc programmes? Then Starhub should NOT allow pre-recording also liao leh?
What nonsense is this???
Cuz if you say record music from radio then convert to mp3 is illegal, then how about recording updated movies from cable vision (which normally shows very recent movies like 1 month ago types) and then seeing it at your own leisure time??? -
i think its fcuking stupid.
they might as well ban videocameras cos they can record sound and film as well.
they try and stop a flood but they end up dehydrating the place. -
Why ban the invention that humans created?
Seriously, this whole copyright issue is going too far. The invention of such products is meant for entertainment. Ban this, ban that, might as well destroy them. -
down with RIAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! kill them all!!!!!!!!!!!
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hmmmm................
ok lah....dun let it spoil our long weekends....
they do theirs, we enjoy what we have loh... -
See, most of the latest hits are being broadcast through radio before the album is out as a promo. But ppl record it, and sell them, or allow downloads online.Originally posted by nightzip:HUH? Radio only leh???
Why cannot record? So does THAT means we cannot record channel 8, channel 5, etc programmes? Then Starhub should NOT allow pre-recording also liao leh?
What nonsense is this???
Cuz if you say record music from radio then convert to mp3 is illegal, then how about recording updated movies from cable vision (which normally shows very recent movies like 1 month ago types) and then seeing it at your own leisure time???
Yar, you can argue that its like the knife thing. You can use it to kill ppl but that doesn't make knife illegal.
But RIAA is right now pushing the world to a new trend. If something has potential to be used against copyright laws, ban it. screw them -
I think what creative is trying to do is to pre-emptively demonstrate that it has tried to do something about copyright infringement - so that it cannot later be said that Creative knew infringemnt was gg on but did nothing even though it could.Originally posted by hisoka:A more interesting issue would be whether they were cheating hte customers by listing the FM recordability as part of the features and now taking it out.
Maybe the fact that the firmware contains this 'feature' is so widely publicised is deliberate IE Leaked?