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EFF: Who Killed TiVoToGo?

Over on the tivocommunity.com forums, there's been a lot of chatter about how and why TiVoToGo was disabled in the new Series 3 box. Everyone seemed to be pointing fingers at Cablelabs, TiVo, and the Hollywood studios. The EFF just published a short paper called EFF: Who Killed TiVoToGo? that looks into the issue. The most choice bit:

CableLabs has yet to permit TiVo to implement TiVoToGo in the CableCARD-compatible Series 3 HD. TiVo must first create a set of restrictions that satisfies CableLabs, and, if it cannot, the feature will remain extinct. Hollywood has openly wanted to rein in TiVoToGo, and any revived version will be more limited than its predecessor. Again, if Hollywood and cable companies had originally obtained such a veto power over the DVR itself, TiVo might never have been born.

The EFF has been beating this anti-DRM drum for years but it certainly looks like their fears of digital TV being locked down with DRM and hindering innovation is coming true.

by Matt Haughey October 3, 2006 in News

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