Harry Potter released unprotected
13:40 13 June 02 NewScientist.com news service
Warner Home Video has chosen not to copy-protect the home versions of its blockbuster movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in major markets, including the US and UK. This means people can go out and buy a DVD or VHS, connect the analogue output of their player to a recorder - either analogue or digital - and make free copies for friends.
Usually, hot new movies are protected by Macrovision, which tinkers with the analogue picture signal so that it can be viewed on a TV set but not copied.
So, is this just a test or has at least one industry giant decided, as the software industry learned long ago, that the cost of copy protection often exceeds its value. Time to short Macrovision (MVSN, NASDAQ NM)? In the past year the stock has dropped from about $72 to about $14. I wonder if their $1.00 drop in price on today's opening reflects this news? steve