PS3 News

PlayStation 3’s PlayTV content will not be copy protected

By Stevie Smith Feb 26, 2008, 18:49 GMT

Sony reveals that PlayTV recordings will not be restricted by copy protection. Credit: Sony.

With copy protection systems such as DRM (digital rights management) existing as points of contention with media users, PlayStation 3 owners will be pleased to learn that they will be able to export and store TV recordings made with the Sony upcoming PlayTV digital TV receiver.

During a recent demonstration on gaming Web site Eurogamer, Mark Bunting of Sony’s Cambridge Studio -- which is presently developing the PlayTV software -- revealed exactly how MPEG-2 video files can be transferred from PlayTV over to the PlayStation 3’s menu without being stymied by copy protection.

From that point, the raw format media content, which is not only free of copy protection but also time-based usage restriction, can then be exported to external sources including memory sticks, separate hard drives, or a host PC system.

“We’ve talked to our legal department about it,” said Bunting on the subject of piracy via P2P networks such as BitTorrent. “All we’re doing is moving it out of PlayTV and to the cross-media bar as if it was any other recording. So hopefully users won’t do stuff they shouldn’t do with it.”

Outlining Sony’s apparent willingness to trust PlayTV users not to do anything illegal with its content, Bunting added that he’d rather authorities moved to catch those making money out of illegally selling media content than see Sony prevent users from storing their recordings in an external location.

While officially unveiled back in 2007, Sony has not yet issued a price or a final release date for its PlayTV, which will offer users access to a pair of HD TV tuners, both capable of viewing, recording and playing free TV channels in high or standard definition.

Source: GamesIndustry