Hello:
Image below is an 'Advertising Department Publicity-Photo'
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/2/ABC_Streaming.jpg
I am very curious about ABC's free online video streaming (of course you can't;cannot really save the streams This ABC thing sure does look interesting. I believe that this makes ABC the first to provide this service both-online + for free (please see this article hyperlink url= http://www.paidcontent.org/more-abc-streaming-reactions-what-happens-to-portals. Please see url hyperlink = http://abc.go.com/fsp/index.html My question is has anyone tried it, I think it looks like it would be load of fun and a great thing (that is to watch the video) to do with a broadband connected computer that you can't do with a dial-up PC . I also think (I guess I think too much, HAHAHA) that ABC uses special viewing software, but I haven't really explored the whole software-mechanism I am pretty sure you have to download a special viewer, I would LOVE 2 hear from anyone who has experience with it or has an opinion about it. THANKS !!! :talk:

Donald Miller - Charleston Suburbs :wave:

I watched an Alias episode two days ago. It was very good. Quality was perfect, there weren't many commercial interuptions and the few that there were, were very short.

I have a question though, for the AOL free preview episode thing, is there any way at all to save those files onto your computer or burn to DVD? I really want to get those Hangin with Mr. Cooper episodes before theyre gone ;)

Hello:
Thank You so much for replying to my thread.. I read your question, and I agree with you that your question is a valid question, and it is a very thoughtful question... I believe that you can, but there would be a 'learning curve' involved and there would be a sizeable number of steps, along with system requirements.. First, the capture would have to be permissible under the 'BETA-MAX DECISION' see hyperlink url = http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/B/htmlB/betamaxcase/betamaxcase.htm But that's proabably NOT allowed by the Eula's so it's a moot point anyway..
REMEMBER; it would have to be permissible to save the stream, and it's probably not permissible right now , .. Selling such video would be wrong in any case. also the streaming url would have to permit the recording, ABC + AOL have Eula's of course.

Donald Miller - Charleston Suburbs :wave:

Federal Laws
The three primary federal laws used to combat this crime are:


1) U.S. Copyright Law {Title 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., Title 18 U.S.C., Section 2319 and Section 2319A}: The federal law protects sound recordings first "fixed" as of February 15, 1972. The law protects copyright owners from the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of sound recordings to the public. Section 2319 applies only to those recordings that are "fixed" with authorization on or after February I 5, 1972 (that is, when the performance is put into a tangible form such as a tape, record or CD).
Those recordings "fixed" prior to February 15, 1972, are protected by criminal law through a state's unauthorized duplication statute. On the civil side, recordings are protected by a state's competition laws.

Criminal sound recording copyright infringements are punishable by up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Repeat offenders can be imprisoned up to 10 years. <b>Individuals may also be held civilly liable to the copyright owner for actual damages or lost profits or for statutory damages up to $100,000 per infringed copyright.</b>


2) Trafficking In Counterfeit Labels {Title 18 U.S. C., Section 2318}: This statute covers counterfeit labels intended to be affixed to a sound recording. A "counterfeit label" includes any component of the entire package of a prerecorded audio cassette, company disc or album cover. The definition also extends to a situation where counterfeiters have simulated "genuine" labels that have not previously existed. A person can be convicted under this law for trafficking in a finished product that contains a counterfeit label, as well as a component of that product, such as the insert card for an audio cassette. This statute imposes penalties of up to five years in prison and/or $250,000 in fines.

3) Trademark Counterfeiting {Title 18 U.S.C. Section 2320}: This statute deals with sound recordings that also contain the counterfeit trademark of the legitimate manufacturer or artists. The statute covers the "trafficking" as well as attempting to traffick goods containing the counterfeit marks. The penalties imposed by this statute for legal entities, such as corporations, range from $1 million to $5 million. Penalties for individuals range from five years in prison and/or $250,000 in fines to 15 years in prison and/or $1 million in fines.

4) Anti-Bootleg Statute {Section 2319A}: This federal anti-bootleg statute was created in December 1994. Like the pre-existing state statutes, the new federal statute criminalizes the unauthorized manufacture, distribution or trafficking in sound recordings and music videos of "live" musical performances. However, the federal statute also provides for the seizure of bootleg recordings or music videos manufactured outside the United States by U.S. Customs at the point of importation. In effect, bootleg recordings are now subject to seizure and forfeiture in the same manner as other property in violation of customs laws.

State Laws
Nearly all states have piracy related laws that make it a criminal offense to pirate, counterfeit or bootleg audio/video recordings. The three most commonly used state laws are:

1) True Name and Address Statute: This statute mandates the actual name and address of the manufacturer of a sound recording be displayed on the packaging. Because pirates, counterfeiters and bootleggers generally do not display their true name and address on illegal product, they are usually in violation of this statute. All sound/video recordings, regardless of the date of fixations are covered under this statute.

2) Unauthorized Duplication Statute: Pirate and counterfeit sound recordings "fixed" prior to February 15, 1972 are covered by this statute.

3) Anti-Bootleg Statute:Arenas, promoters and performers are protected against piracy under this statute, making it a crime to manufacture the sounds of a live performance of an artist and to distribute these reproductions.

Many of these state statutes carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; other state statutes carry misdemeanor penalties.

Since the BetaMax issue comes up at least once a month


If your really bored and want to read about the history of the betamax case
that mike was referring too.

http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/betamax/#documents

That will give you enough to read to put you sleep.

Now. Just to add a few bits.

The main law that is used against just about anything having to do with
copying/piracy is the DMCA (the Digital Copyright Millinium Act)

http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/iclp/dmca1.htm

Hello:
I agree with you completely, the DMCA - would be harshest anti-recording weapon.. I was strictly discussing the theoretical possibilities.. The DMCA is the Sword of Domocles...it forbids everything digital, good things or bad things, because there are good things, like school teachers, and librarians, that are now so reluctant to use media in any form.. Has anyone looked at 'moviebeam'
They actually advertise on SITCOMS ONLINE in the top Banner... This Online Streaming thing is growing so fast, that I can't even absorb the various aspects of it. But it sure does look like a neat thing. I guess it's not a whole lot different from online radio, which is been around a long time now..

Thanks for the informative + educational discussion !! This subject is always a lively one!!

Donald Miller - Charleston Suburbs :wave:

I don't know much about the Betamax thing you all are talking about, but I do love ABC online! I didn't have to downlaod anything...i just clicked though the link and watched the Lost episode... it's really good quality and will be fun to see the shows back to back. I didn't find the commercials too bad. Have you checked it out, cprompt?

I don't know much about the Betamax thing you all are talking about, but I do love ABC online! I didn't have to downlaod anything...i just clicked though the link and watched the Lost episode... it's really good quality and will be fun to see the shows back to back. I didn't find the commercials too bad. Have you checked it out, cprompt?
Hello:
Thank You for your reply, Yes it (ABC) does play for me (AOL, I can't get that to work) but all I get with ABC is "excerpts" which play using ordinary everyday Macromedia Flash Player. I was under the impression that these videos would be full length episodes, and maybe they are but I just don't understand how it works.

Donald Miller Charleston Suburbs

Are you using the right link? The link I have been using for the full episodes is:
http://dynamic.abc.go.com/streaming/landing

I believe what you have been seeing are the trailers for upcoming shows... the link I gave you has the 4 shows (Lost, Desp Housewives, Commander in Chief, and Alias) full episodes.

Hope that helps! Let me know how you like it.