Hollywood Is Winning Because Consumer Electronics Companies Are Divided
from the unified-front dept
Business Week is looking at why Hollywood didn’t have too much trouble pushing through the broadcast flag, saying that the consumer electronics industry is too splintered to put up a unified front against the MPAA. In some cases, consumer electronics companies (like Sony) are connected to Hollywood. In others, they’re investing heavily in content protection schemes. Philips appears to be the only big consumer electronics player that is saying the broadcast flag is a bad thing for just about everyone involved. Part of the issue may be that the consumer electronics industry is getting squeezed on both sides by the content providers and computer companies who are moving quickly into their space. It’s looking like it won’t be long until the consumer electronics and computer industries aren’t considered separate any more. Hopefully, though, the computer makers will be able to put together a united front against bad Hollywood ideas to lock up content. Of course, it would be even better if folks in Hollywood realized that they’re harming themselves with these plans, but I guess you can’t have everything.
Comments on “Hollywood Is Winning Because Consumer Electronics Companies Are Divided”
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When have you ever seen the computer industry put up a united front against anything. This is the same industry mind you that let a single company dominate it to the point where it’s just not profitable to make computers anymore. I’m sure a united front against something is possible. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Hollywood is winning because people keep buying
Consider if you will another site on the Internet.
Slashdot
Filled with some of the loudest chest thumpers about the evils of RIAA/MPAA. Yet, when the ‘new movie’ comes out, or Sony has a new do-dad, the people of Slashdot who a week ago were screaming about the MPAA/RIAA is the same group who’s 1st to go to that movie or buy that new do-dad.
One day, perhaps, they will figure out the money they spend is being used to buy the stick that later beats them. The day people figure out it is THEIR funds buying the sticks that beat them is the day Hollywood will lose. And not until.
Computer Makers Depend on Hollywood
The sales of high-end home PCs, indeed, the market for 64-bit home computing exists because of gaming. The gaming industry, in turn, depends on Hollywood for creating big hits. And the gaming industry jealously guards its intellectual property just as much as any other Hollywood industry.
Hollywood is here to stay. The proportion of income derived from music or movies may decrease, but the business model of making money based on intellectual property will continue in one form or other.