Stupid assed DVD recorder and cable...

[Solon]

OK, so, just a couple of hours ago, I went to my Grandmother's house, she got her digital cable service upgraded, and my Uncle bought her a DVD recorder/VCR. She asked me to set up the DVD recorder, so I set it up, and the station that the cable was on was Starz, playing Dawn of the Dead(Remake). Anyways, to test that the DVD recorder works, I put in a DVD-R and then hit record. It started recording, then a message pops up on the screens saying it can't continue recording because the movie is copy protected!

What type of bullshit is this? You know, back in my day, and I'm not even out of my 20s yet, we recorded such movies off of cable with impunity on VHS, and even early DVD recorders. What the fuck? In fact, I don't even think its illegal to record off of subscriptions YOU PAID FOR! Godsdamn it all to Hades.

[RoyGBiv]

1. Welcome to DRM land ...

Digital Restrictions Management has infected everything. Supposedly only hackers and criminals should have any cause for complaint. And because so many people believed that (and still do) for so long, it was almost applauded.

It'll get a lot worse before it gets better, if it gets better.

[Solon]

3. I wonder if there is a way to disable it, my grandmother...

put it off as no big deal, but she is going to hit the roof if she can't record some of her favorite shows. Maybe I can flash the firmware or something? I just hope it doesn't involve taking the damned thing apart and soldering shit, I hate doing that!

Oh wait, that would involve violating the DMCA, ah fuck it, that's a bad law anyways. Just another form of civil disobedience.

I knew DRM was a problem, it just didn't "hit me" until now. I mean, I railed against it, but it only affected me in minor ways, on my computer, which has a lot of ways to sidestep such annoyances. But on normal appliances, it wouldn't be that easy. I don't want to sound like an old fogey or anything, but there needs to be a law against this shit, it violates our fair use rights, if nothing else, and that is horrendous.

[RoyGBiv]

5. There are ways around it ...

Unfortunately simple instructions aren't available. Complicated instructions can be found, as noted by another respondent, but how to do it depends on the model of the burner and the version of the firmware that controls it.

The model/firmware of the cable box is also an issue.

It's a big mess.

[leeroysphitz]

2. Try googling the make and model number of the recorder

along with "DRM" and see what comes up. Somebody out there may have come up with a work around.

Many newer dvd players have upgradeable firmware and other hacks for turning off region codes etc...

Give it a shot your Granmother might thank you. :)

[Solon]

4. I didn't pay attention, beyond that it was a Sony brand recorder...

remember, I didn't buy it, I just hooked it up. I'll call my grandma tomorrow to see what the exact model is.