Creative Disables FM Recording In Zen

last SG · 2006-10-22T00:22:54+00:00

See, the US Government is firmly behind the RIAA. They make it sound like supporting RIAA is respecting properties rights and all democratic and free country...

Båseline SG

The latest firmware update for the Zen Vision:M sneaks in a feature update thats 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 cant 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

scabstermooch SG

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.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

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.

fudgester SG

Are they gonna ban VCRs for their ability to record movies next? Rolling Eyes

ditzy SG

But its being played on air! Public radio stations should be taken to court or forced to shut down too. Laughing

skeujin SG

my O2 can still record... Mr. Green

scabstermooch SG

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?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Maybe I don't understand. 20 years ago I wasn't even born yet.

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?

scabstermooch SG

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!

ndmmxiaomayi SG

It's unlikely that Creative will start fighting with Apple again over the MP3 market.

scabstermooch SG

so you mean creative will not be bothering with its mp3 players anymore?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

No. I only mean that they won't fight against each other.

scabstermooch SG

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.

martin_lim85 SG

i dun even update my firmware

alexkusu SG

heng...lucky me is oni zen neeon Mr. Green

scabstermooch SG

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 Bear SG

the next thing, we can't play songs on our own instruments Laughing

hisoka SG

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.

nightzip SG

HUH? Radio only leh??? Shocked

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? Mad

What nonsense is this??? Mad

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??? Mad Mr. Green

OO_OO_OO SG

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.