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Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

techblog.netflix.com

171–180 of 524 posts

Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#171
post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From another comment, don't necessarily think of the dilemma of a netflix user, or internet browser, instead think of the of the blow to the openness of the next person that wants to make a brand new web browser. For the new browser to fully compete, they now /NEED/ to set up a closed relationship with netflix, the drm provider, the other browsers. If it was an open standard, they could simply code the crypto algorit…

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Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#172
post #2

Translation: Netflix successfully lobied DRM into what is supposed to be the OPEN web standard, to the point where even Firefox couldn't afford not to support it. Dark days for the free exchange of information enabled by the web.

Yes, the world was better when Flash and Silverlight were the media of choice for delivering video.

How about the DRM stays out of the free web entirely? You want DRM? develop your own desktop app.

Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#173
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it's a good compromise in a capitalist society where artists need to make money for what they produce in order to feed themselves Funny, I haven't heard many artists clamoring for DRM, and the ones who do tend to be well beyond the feeding-themselves step on Maslow's Hierarchy. No, it is, as always, the distributors. That's because DRM hurts artists but entrenches distributors. It is a shitty compromise because it…

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Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#174
post #2

Translation: Netflix successfully lobied DRM into what is supposed to be the OPEN web standard, to the point where even Firefox couldn't afford not to support it. Dark days for the free exchange of information enabled by the web.

I don't know if I'm just looking too far into your comment, but I don't see why you're blaming Netflix (or it seems you are) or how you got to them being the bad guys for this? They're not the ones that make the content. If it was up to Netflix, they would just release their shows DRM-free on Netflix for any platform. Unfortunately, that's not how things work and they have to bow to the demands of the content distributors (not creators, like some people have stated in other comments).

Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#175
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, the DRM is still not standard. Only the interface to it is. Every browser must still deal directly with the DRM provider and hope to reach an agreement with them, both technically and financially. As a result, only certain platforms are supported. New browsers face a new barrier to entry, in particular - the exact opposite of how the Web is support to work. Second, this is worse in the sense that Netflix, Goog…

> First, the DRM is still not standard. Only the interface to it is. Is a programming language a good analogy? The C++ spec says what a switch-statement should do, but nothing about how it must be implemented, right? > New browsers face a new barrier to entry It's not really a new barrier to entry though, is it? If I wrote a browser last year, were my chances of getting Netflix to support it better then than they are…

EME is a much bigger barrier than the old system of plugins. With plugins you implemented the right API for the silverlight plugin and netflix would work. In the future you need to not just implement the API but persuade someone to build the plugin for your browser and then persuade each individual DRM using site to work with your browser.

Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#177
post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, but Hollywood has the upper hand here. Hollywood has no desire to enter an open platform. They're completely happy if none of their movies are online, ever. Really. They already have a massively profitable distribution system in the theaters. The problem is that people want to watch Hollywood movies on their computer, including people that use Linux. So what do you tell those people to do? Tell them run Window…

I wonder why Hollywood was taken over by lawyers in the first place. Yes, I am going back to before Sony vs Universal.

Hollywood got its start in escaping Edison's patent lawyers (and hired goons); that's part of why it's on the west cost in the first place.

Re: Update on HTML5 Video for Netflix

#179
post #2

Translation: Netflix successfully lobied DRM into what is supposed to be the OPEN web standard, to the point where even Firefox couldn't afford not to support it. Dark days for the free exchange of information enabled by the web.

I don't know if I'm just looking too far into your comment, but I don't see why you're blaming Netflix (or it seems you are) or how you got to them being the bad guys for this? They're not the ones that make the content. If it was up to Netflix, they would just release their shows DRM-free on Netflix for any platform. Unfortunately, that's not how things work and they have to bow to the demands of the content distrib…

I get your argument but a larger portion than ever of Netflix's catalog is first party content.
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