NBC makes noise about iPod and PSP TiVoToGo sync

In a move that surprised no one, NBC is making vague, legalish threats in TiVo's direction over the latter's push to put TV shows on iPods and PSPs.

Quoth an NBC spokesperson,

TiVo appears to be acting unilaterally, disregarding established rights of content owners to participate in decisions regarding the distribution and exploitation of their content. This unilateral action creates the risk of legal conflict instead of contributing to the constructive exploitation of digital technology that can rapidly provide new and exciting experiences for the consumer.

And here I thought TiVo was exploiting digital technology. Perhaps the subtext is that NBC would rather exploit consumers? Regardless, eWeek spoke to two intellectual property attorneys about NBC's statement. Both say NBC doesn't have much of a leg to stand on and point to the Supreme Court of the United States' Betamax judgement as the relevant precedent.

Comments

[Kyle Johnson]

Tivo isn't involved in distributing content at all. All they've enabled me to do is move the content I have recorded to another device. If NBC decides they want to sue, then I will decide not to watch anymore NBC programming. Simple as that.

[dendrite]

TiVo is involved in distributing content. Moving content to other devices is just one feature of the platform. TiVo has had deals with CNet, Netflix, Yahoo, Nikon, and numerous, numerous, NUMEROUS advertisers to distribute other people's content. There will only be more in the future too.

[Eric Pruss]

I haven't watched anything on NBC for, oh, 10 years now, with one exception... I watched Surface, and thought, hey, this seems pretty good... It was, for the first few episodes, but then it just becamse insanely insipid... I was immediately reminded what the letters NBCactually stand for...

Nothing But Crap.

[AAA]

has any one yet got tv on there psp

[AAA]

you can olso save your favorite tv shows to psp

[CCC]

All NBC has to do is turn on Macroviion and TiVo won't allow the content to be moved to another device.

[LavaHot]

The last thing NBC needs as a fourth place network is legal controversey with one of the most beloved yet underappreciated companies in america.

[Rick]

When will these big companies learn? I have a hacked Tivo and I use TivoTool to grab my shows and put them in iTunes and on my iPod. I DO NOT distribute the downloaded files to the Internet. I strictly use them for PERSONAL use. I do not have the time to sit around and watch TV. I do have the time to grab the shows and put them on my iPod to watch them when I want, where I want. Since being able to do this, I have actually added more shows to my Tivo's ToDo list. I don't take the time to edit out the commercials. While watching the shows on my iPod, if I see an interesting commercial, I will stop fast-forwarding and watch it - just like when watching a show straight from my Tivo. Make the shows interesting enough to want to watch and make the commercials interesting enough to catch my eye and you have done your job. Stop worrying about the common user pirating your content - most of us don't have time to do it.

[kevintatonmyass]

NBC has been on a downward spiral since they chose Leno over Letterman back in the day.

[behry]

I have to agree. If NBC sues I think that I will boycot NBC alltogether. I should be able to watch my recorded shows as I see fit. I also don't have time to edit out commercials so there original programing will be intact.
I say NBC don't do it you will regret it.

[Michael]

Just as long as they sue after the end of Apprentice and Biggest Loser, I'm all for boycotting. It's not like they have many other good shows, anyway.

[Russell Dalyrimple]

To Eric Pruss:
Thank you for that fantastic and useful posting about Surface. That's exactly on topic and I learned so much from reading your post. You rule, dude. You rock hard.

Russell

[Squidmarks]

I wonder if they'll be going after the guy who wrote the SageToiPod software (inveteratediy.blogspot.com) too? Like Tivo's software, it automatically transcodes all your SageTV content into iPod format and adds it to iTunes.

[Phil]

Nice to see PVRBlog compiling this story based on posts from TiVoBlog and megazone's TiVoLovers site without any credit and several days after the news hit.

[Nicholas]

Hey Phil, get over yourself. Welcome to the internet.

[drew]

So... is NBC making waves over at DISH Network too... with their PocketDish player?

http://www.pocketdish.com/?section=home

And... you know... this transferring to a media player thing has been around for quite awhile. It's only recently that they decided to support more 'well known' products like the iPod and PSP.

[Randy]

People still watch NBC for shows other than Leno?

[hakbot]

fuck it

[mrklaw]

I'm excited to transfer shows to my Sony Clie (uses the same codec as the PSP) but guess what...none of them are NBC shows.

[MegaZone]

Phil - Thanks, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I read PVRBlog, TiVoBlog, PVRWire, ZatzNotFunny, and a number of other blogs - and we all use many of the same primary sources when 'reporting' things - I have CNet alerts, Google alerts, PRNewswire alerts, feeds from Google Blog search, etc. I read a number of TiVo mailing lists, newsgroups, and web forums. I know the folks here and the other blogs use many of the same tools.

So we may report on the same thing, even cite the same sources, without it meaning we're poaching from each other. When I write about something in TiVoLovers that I was alerted too by reading another blog, I always try to say so in my post.

[Brad]

Microsoft is a partner of NBC( i.e. MSNBC). I was not surprised that they don't like their shows to be on their partner's competitor's products. PSP is own by Sony, who is a competitor in the gaming industry to Microsoft, and the ipod is own by Apple, who is a competitor in the computer market to Microsoft. NBC looks to have a "keep your friends happy and you will be happy" business philosophy.

[ChrisW75]

No Tivo here in Oz :-(
Still, I can't see how they can win this, sounds like general sabre-rattling.
And to answer someones earlier question, yeah, I've been watching TV on my PSP, but after downloading episodes from the internet.

[mrklaw]

I'm kind of glad that someone's threatening to sue. Lately it has seemed that if no one is threatening to sue, then you aren't innovating.

[Daniel McAndrew]

Seems to me it would make better sense for NBC to thank TIVO for spreading more broadcast around.

NBC could use the eyeballs - since it hasn't been doing that well anyway.

[Chris]

A show is on Friday nights. Nielson rates the show so the network can sell consumers to advertisers. However one person waits for the show to be out on DVD while another tapes it on their VCR and watches it on Saturday and yet another Tivo's it to watch the following Monday. The market is changing. If I can pay 2 bucks for a TV espisode and not have advertising DURING the show creep up on my screen then I am all for it, let alone skipping the ads the come in the middle of the show. In the future folks will pay the producers directly. The network does not sell us shows, they are the middle man. We get sold to the ad folks. Just look at how many old TV shows come out on DVD now. They wouldn't be there if the money wasn't.

[GoShox]

I can see why NBC would throw a fit about that from the list of Partners TIVO has. BUT I hope the courts identify that TIVO did the responsible thing by "Tagging" all the content transfered with the Media Access Key. So according to TIVO's own TOC you keep it in the same household.

[Todd Lokken]

Maybe NBC should invest dollars in their lame prime-time lineup (ie--"Joey") as opposed to lawsuits. Then maybe they can get more viewers.

[jeff]

Go ahead NBC...the sooner you make this a legal case, the sooner we'll get legitimate systems out there that'll enable us to psynch our devices with our televisions. One more step towards making network television extinct.

Buh bye network tv and traditional advertising...bring on the next generation!

[PHSYCO!]

WE EAT ALL OF THE NBC (NOTHING BUT CRAP) PESONAL THEN BLOW UP THE STATION(s) AND KILL EVERY ONE WHO LIKES IT STEAL ALL NBC(NOPTHING BUT CRAP) FUNDS AND GIVE THEM TO SONY AND WHO EVERY MAKES TIVO ................................................................................................................................................. IF YOUVE GOT COMPLAINTS EMAIL ME AT HATEPRINCE@HOTMAIL.COM O AND MAKE THE TITEL COMPLAITNT SO I KNOW WHO TO PUT IN A BOX AND THROW IN TO A VALCNO.........................................................
INCLUDE NAME ADRESS AGE DISCRIPTION.

[PHSYCO!]

OH YES A NBC ARE ALL GAY FUCKS THAT GREW UP IN MANSIONS THAT GOT EVERY THING THE WANT AND NOW THE WANT TO MAKE LIFE MISRABLE............................................................................................ NBC KISS MY FUCKING ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND JUST KKKAZ VIDEO GAMES ARE VIOLOINATE DOSENT MEAN KIDS SHOULDENT PLAY THEM IT MEANS CRAZY PEPOLE(LIKE ME) SHOULDNT PLAY THE IT MAKES THINGS HAPPEN ........BAD.......THINGS

[PHSYCO!]

to day is a good day ive cllmed down

ARGH STUPID VOICES I WONT PTFB

[PHSYCO!]

somone needs to get hurt!

[THinks Psycho is messed up]

Dude go attack NBC and blow yourself up so we dont have to listen to you. This is for serious conversation not plotting to kill people. Go play GTA if u want to do that.

[polo]

i am looking for converting speed, quality of movie, ease of use, and a full featured DVD to PSP converting application , then Super DVD to PSP Converter should be on my short list of products to consider.

http://www.yaodownload.com/video-design/video/super-dvd-to-psp-converter/

[kekexili]

use Cucusoft iPod Movie/Video Converter

http://www.purchaseshareware.com/multimedia-design-video/cucusoft-ipod-movie-video-converter8889-5.htm