Bruce Almighty, Universal, and WHY I'M ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Michael S Cox]

NightStalker wrote:

>Thanks for the tips there Michael - definitely noted for the next
>player.
>
>And - egads!!! - I just watched 2fast 2furious (OK, I know, I know) and
>it had the same problem. Also a Universal DVD and also with 4 bloody
>trailers! Sheesh - gimme a break. Guess which DVDs are being
>returned.....(faulty aren't they??? ;))
>
>
>
There is an interesting article from the EFF regarding the legalities,
or lack thereof, of the UOP implementation on DVD's. Their arguments are
very much American specific (i.e. they don't really apply here in
Australia neccessarily), however, given that the disc in question is an
R1--I think you stand a good chance at arguing that it is not fit for
purpose and overly restricts your rights for fair use.

The article's url is
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/copyrightoffice/20030513_unskippable_dvd.php

MichaelC

[Brissie]

Well I certainly won't be buying it now.

On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 18:10:19 +1000, NightStalker
<Nightstalker@somewhere.or.other> wrote:

>
><Start rant>
>
>Please excuse the exclamation marks in the subject, but I am furious!
>(oops - there's another one)
>
>Just received Bruce Almighty (from DVDBoxOffice in Canada) and although
>I enjoyed the movie, I had to sit through several minutes of bloody
>promos/trailers at the start, and every button on the remote was locked
>out. Geez - even a VCR will fast forward past those. Now, every time I
>want to watch that movie, I have to wait about 8 minutes before the
>movie starts, and will have to sit through the same tired old trailers
>for movies I don't want.
>
>Surely, some reviewer somewhere, or somebody with some clout, can raise
>this point? Fer Chrissakes, I bought the DVD to watch Bruce Almighty -
>NOT a load of crap trailers and intrusive advertising.
>
>What next - "A few messages from our trading partners folks" then a
>series of ads for eveything from condoms to tampons, with washing powder
>somewhere in the middle?
>
>This is a nasty trend starting here, and I'm surprised that I haven't
>seen or heard any howls of discontent from people about it yet... or is
>Bruce Almighty the first one? It's certainly the first one I've seen.
>
>On the PC, I can use DVD IdlePro to ignore all that lockout stuff,
>including the FBI warnings etc, as well as making the DVD-ROM region-
>free. But in the home cinema I can't, dammit.
>
>Did I say I was furious, annoyed, angry, pissed off? Huh?
>
>And for good measure:- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
></End of rant>

[Spam Buster]

"Brissie" <brissie@zwallet.com> wrote in message
news:djq3tv8c18gq1l13pajpt58g7e0j92vf11@4ax.com...
|
| Well I certainly won't be buying it now.
|

Same here. Was actually planning on doing so today. "Saved by the bell!"


SB

[Peter]

Yet another DVD I was considering getting that I won't now. The other
was Animal House

Disney got a lot of flack for doing this awhile back, it keeps it's
trailers, but gives you the option to skip through.

I often wonder if this is done on purpose, or if it's niaeve people at
these companies that think what works for the Video release will work
for DVD, and since they have to lock out the FBI warning, just lock out
everything pre-movie


Oldus Fartus wrote:
> NightStalker wrote:
>
>> <Start rant>
>>
>> Please excuse the exclamation marks in the subject, but I am furious!
>> (oops - there's another one)
>>
>
> Well deserved rant snipped.
>
>> Did I say I was furious, annoyed, angry, pissed off? Huh?
>>
>> And for good measure:- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>
> I agree, and it is one other justification for ripping and copying any
> DVD I get, and play the copy.
>
> Try telling a youngster that the five or six minutes at the beginning of
> a movie is necessary.
>

--
At the source of every error which is blamed on the
computer you will find at least two human errors,
including the error of blaming it on the computer.
--
Thats not funny!
---
Signature generated by SillySigz!
http://www.sturec.com/sillysigz.shtml

[Peter]

Shari wrote:
> "NightStalker" <Nightstalker@somewhere.or.other> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1a3c2be3cff4d78e989726@news-50.giganews.com...
>
>><Start rant>
>>
>>Please excuse the exclamation marks in the subject, but I am furious!
>>(oops - there's another one)
>>
>>Just received Bruce Almighty (from DVDBoxOffice in Canada) and although
>>I enjoyed the movie, I had to sit through several minutes of bloody
>>promos/trailers at the start, and every button on the remote was locked
>>out. Geez - even a VCR will fast forward past those. Now, every time I
>>want to watch that movie, I have to wait about 8 minutes before the
>>movie starts, and will have to sit through the same tired old trailers
>>for movies I don't want.
>>
>>Surely, some reviewer somewhere, or somebody with some clout, can raise
>>this point? Fer Chrissakes, I bought the DVD to watch Bruce Almighty -
>>NOT a load of crap trailers and intrusive advertising.
>>
>>What next - "A few messages from our trading partners folks" then a
>>series of ads for eveything from condoms to tampons, with washing powder
>>somewhere in the middle?
>>
>>This is a nasty trend starting here, and I'm surprised that I haven't
>>seen or heard any howls of discontent from people about it yet... or is
>>Bruce Almighty the first one? It's certainly the first one I've seen.
>>
>>On the PC, I can use DVD IdlePro to ignore all that lockout stuff,
>>including the FBI warnings etc, as well as making the DVD-ROM region-
>>free. But in the home cinema I can't, dammit.
>>
>>Did I say I was furious, annoyed, angry, pissed off? Huh?
>>
>>And for good measure:- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>></End of rant>
>>--
>>
>>NightStalker
>
>
> Return the DVD and state your reasons why, and request your money back.
> Surely the distributor will get the message eventually if enough people do
> it
>
>
I agree...


--
At the source of every error which is blamed on the
computer you will find at least two human errors,
including the error of blaming it on the computer.
--
Thats not funny!
---
Signature generated by SillySigz!
http://www.sturec.com/sillysigz.shtml

[Peter]

Me wrote:
> I gotta admit, I love trailers. However I still believe in the idea of
> having the freedom to skip them.
>

I like them too, however They should be left as an option on the menu
screen, then being forced down our throats.

>
> "ML" <no@thanks.com> wrote in message
> news:6xhAb.41680$aT.30079@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>
>>It's hella annoying, but luckily my dvd has a "autoplay main feature"
>>setting, so when it loads it goes straight to the movie, then i can click
>>"menu" if I actually want to go back.
>>
>>--
>>main.luser [ML]
>>http://tinyurl.com/fbax
>>
>>
>>"NightStalker" <Nightstalker@somewhere.or.other> wrote in message
>>news:MPG.1a3c2be3cff4d78e989726@news-50.giganews.com...
>>
>>><Start rant>
>>>
>>>Please excuse the exclamation marks in the subject, but I am furious!
>>>(oops - there's another one)
>>>
>>>Just received Bruce Almighty (from DVDBoxOffice in Canada) and although
>>>I enjoyed the movie, I had to sit through several minutes of bloody
>>>promos/trailers at the start, and every button on the remote was locked
>>>out. Geez - even a VCR will fast forward past those. Now, every time I
>>>want to watch that movie, I have to wait about 8 minutes before the
>>>movie starts, and will have to sit through the same tired old trailers
>>>for movies I don't want.
>>>
>>>Surely, some reviewer somewhere, or somebody with some clout, can raise
>>>this point? Fer Chrissakes, I bought the DVD to watch Bruce Almighty -
>>>NOT a load of crap trailers and intrusive advertising.
>>>
>>>What next - "A few messages from our trading partners folks" then a
>>>series of ads for eveything from condoms to tampons, with washing powder
>>>somewhere in the middle?
>>>
>>>This is a nasty trend starting here, and I'm surprised that I haven't
>>>seen or heard any howls of discontent from people about it yet... or is
>>>Bruce Almighty the first one? It's certainly the first one I've seen.
>>>
>>>On the PC, I can use DVD IdlePro to ignore all that lockout stuff,
>>>including the FBI warnings etc, as well as making the DVD-ROM region-
>>>free. But in the home cinema I can't, dammit.
>>>
>>>Did I say I was furious, annoyed, angry, pissed off? Huh?
>>>
>>>And for good measure:- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>>
>>></End of rant>
>>>--
>>>
>>>NightStalker
>>
>>
>
>

--
At the source of every error which is blamed on the
computer you will find at least two human errors,
including the error of blaming it on the computer.
--
Thats not funny!
---
Signature generated by SillySigz!
http://www.sturec.com/sillysigz.shtml

[Peter]

For those who wish to complain. Try e-mailing here
http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/

you have to click accept, then click "Contact us" link where it says
"didn't find your answer on the FAQ"

Remember to be respectfull and outline your concerns. E-mailing them
with "Your ****ing commercials before your shitty movies sucks ass" just
won't go over well.



Brissie wrote:
> Well I certainly won't be buying it now.
>
> On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 18:10:19 +1000, NightStalker
> <Nightstalker@somewhere.or.other> wrote:
>
>
>><Start rant>
>>
>>Please excuse the exclamation marks in the subject, but I am furious!
>>(oops - there's another one)
>>
>>Just received Bruce Almighty (from DVDBoxOffice in Canada) and although
>>I enjoyed the movie, I had to sit through several minutes of bloody
>>promos/trailers at the start, and every button on the remote was locked
>>out. Geez - even a VCR will fast forward past those. Now, every time I
>>want to watch that movie, I have to wait about 8 minutes before the
>>movie starts, and will have to sit through the same tired old trailers
>>for movies I don't want.
>>
>>Surely, some reviewer somewhere, or somebody with some clout, can raise
>>this point? Fer Chrissakes, I bought the DVD to watch Bruce Almighty -
>>NOT a load of crap trailers and intrusive advertising.
>>
>>What next - "A few messages from our trading partners folks" then a
>>series of ads for eveything from condoms to tampons, with washing powder
>>somewhere in the middle?
>>
>>This is a nasty trend starting here, and I'm surprised that I haven't
>>seen or heard any howls of discontent from people about it yet... or is
>>Bruce Almighty the first one? It's certainly the first one I've seen.
>>
>>On the PC, I can use DVD IdlePro to ignore all that lockout stuff,
>>including the FBI warnings etc, as well as making the DVD-ROM region-
>>free. But in the home cinema I can't, dammit.
>>
>>Did I say I was furious, annoyed, angry, pissed off? Huh?
>>
>>And for good measure:- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>></End of rant>
>
>

--
At the source of every error which is blamed on the
computer you will find at least two human errors,
including the error of blaming it on the computer.
--
Thats not funny!
---
Signature generated by SillySigz!
http://www.sturec.com/sillysigz.shtml

[Stan Brown]

In article <IPhAb.2376131$Id.360080@news.easynews.com> in
alt.video.dvd, luminos <x@x.net> wrote:
>What an unuseful, and stupid, response. Why don't you learn something from
>the dvdemystified.com folks, like how to write and how to be useful? And
>why do yo pretend to have anything to do with them?

Why don't you learn to read? I don't pretend to have anything to do
with them, and I challenge you to produce any evidence that I make
such a claim.

As for your other point, what useful response _is_ there when
somebody posts an often-discussed topic and says he is surprised he
hasn't seen it discussed?

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cortland County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
DVD FAQ: http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
other FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/tech/faqget.htm

[Stan Brown]

In article <0WhAb.9535$aw2.4532132@newssrv26.news.prodigy.com> in
alt.video.dvd, Matt Ferrari <ferrari5@ameritech.net> wrote:
>contact universal and let them know
>how you feel about them hacking product that you pay for
>to own
>
>http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/contact_form.cgi?email_id=10

Thanks Matt. (I pasted back together the broken URL.)

Here's what I just wrote:

Let me make this simple: I will not buy another Universal DVD until
you give up your policy of inserting unskippable trailers, and make
a public announcement to that effect.

Either when I first insert the disk, or (worse) when I select "Play
Movie" from the menu, it is unacceptable to force me to watch
commercials on the disk I have paid for.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cortland County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
DVD FAQ: http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
other FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/tech/faqget.htm

[Rutgar]

On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 11:59:35 -0500, Peter <pdferg@ca.inter.net> wrote:

>For those who wish to complain. Try e-mailing here
>http://www.universalstudios.com/homepage/html/contact_us/
>
>you have to click accept, then click "Contact us" link where it says
>"didn't find your answer on the FAQ"
>
>Remember to be respectfull and outline your concerns. E-mailing them
>with "Your ****ing commercials before your shitty movies sucks ass" just
>won't go over well.
>
>

I wrote them. Everyone else here should too. It might also help to
contact DVD websites, such The Digital Bits, to get them to put
pressure on Universal as well.

- Rutgar

[Dick Sidbury]

Spam Buster wrote:
> "Brissie" <brissie@zwallet.com> wrote in message
> news:djq3tv8c18gq1l13pajpt58g7e0j92vf11@4ax.com...
> |
> | Well I certainly won't be buying it now.
> |
>
> Same here. Was actually planning on doing so today. "Saved by the bell!"
>
>
> SB
>
>
Those of you who aren't buying it for that reason should consider going
to Universal's site and telling them why. It can't hurt and may help.

dick

[Dick Sidbury]

Rutgar wrote:

....snip snip...

>
> I wrote them. Everyone else here should too. It might also help to
> contact DVD websites, such The Digital Bits, to get them to put
> pressure on Universal as well.
>
Even better would be to convince the review sites to list as part of the
review when this happens. It might effect sales although it might also
result in review sites not getting free copies of disks.

dick

[Tallulah Blanket]

NightStalker wrote:

> <Start rant>
>
> Please excuse the exclamation marks in the subject, but I am furious!
> (oops - there's another one)
>

The R4 DVD doesn't have this problem.

[Stan Brown]

In article <bqt1or$j33$4@news.eusc.inter.net> in alt.video.dvd,
Peter <pdferg@ca.inter.net> wrote:
>I often wonder if this is done on purpose, or if it's niaeve people at
>these companies that think what works for the Video release will work
>for DVD, and since they have to lock out the FBI warning, just lock out
>everything pre-movie

They don't have to "lock out" the FBI warning; they choose to. They
don't even have to include it. (Every movie, as shown in theaters,
already includes a copyright notice that satisfies international
treaty requirements.)

After all, it's not like anybody doesn't know copying DVDs is wrong.
I doubt mightily that ever, in the history of the world, a single
person has been deterred from plans to copy a VHS or DVD by seeing
that warning on screen.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cortland County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
DVD FAQ: http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
other FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/tech/faqget.htm

[Stan Brown]

In article <bqth2c$24kdd9$2@ID-109339.news.uni-berlin.de> in
alt.video.dvd, Dick Sidbury <DrJamesSidbury@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Even better would be to convince the review sites to list as part of the
>review when this happens. It might effect sales although it might also
>result in review sites not getting free copies of disks.

We don't want to effect sales; we want to effect a drop in sales.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Cortland County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
DVD FAQ: http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
other FAQs: http://oakroadsystems.com/tech/faqget.htm

[Rodney James]

"Stan Brown" <the_stan_brown@fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a3bd802531787f398b8d8@news.odyssey.net.. .
> In article <IPhAb.2376131$Id.360080@news.easynews.com> in
> alt.video.dvd, luminos <x@x.net> wrote:
> [snip]
> As for your other point, what useful response _is_ there when
> somebody posts an often-discussed topic and says he is surprised he
> hasn't seen it discussed?

It allows many other newsgroup readers who may have also missed the previous
discussion to read about the topic. If you don't like reading a topic that
is being repeated, then DON'T. This is Usenet. Anyone can post or reply on
any topic they desire at any time. There are no rules preventing multiple
discussions on a topic.

[Scot Gardner]

"Dick Sidbury" <DrJamesSidbury@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bqtgqv$24kdd9$1@ID-109339.news.uni-berlin.de...

RE: Mandatory commercials.

> Those of you who aren't buying it for that reason should consider
>going to Universal's site and telling them why. It can't hurt and may
>help.
>
> dick


Disney gave in to customer complaints after about 6 months of doing
mandatory commercials in late 1999 through early 2000.

Today, Disney posts a message saying that the commercials can be skipped
by pressing the menu button.

[Scot Gardner]

"NightStalker" <Nightstalker@somewhere.or.other> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a3c6e5eea0b722989727@news-50.giganews.com...
In article <3fd19217$0$13634$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>,
xocsm@optushome.com.au says...
> Many Sony and Yamaha DVD players include UOP override capbilities in
> their advanced mod kits. The UOP (User Operation Prohibition) is the
> feature that allows DVD's to disable various control buttons such as
> skip, fast forward, menu, stop, pause, audio and subtitle select (to
> name a few) in the player. Mod kits with UOP override prevent the
> player from reading and enforcing these controls, thus restoring your
> ability to skip, fast forward ... etc This is something to keep in
> mind when next purchasing a DVD player :)
>
> Oh, and by the way, I too share your wrath and anger at this annoying
> trend.
>
> MichaelC

<<Thanks for the tips there Michael - definitely noted for the next
player.>>

<<And - egads!!! - I just watched 2fast 2furious (OK, I know, I know)
and it had the same problem. Also a Universal DVD and also with 4
bloody trailers! Sheesh - gimme a break. Guess which DVDs are being
returned.....(faulty aren't they??? ;))>>


If a player's remote "skip" command won't allow bypassing the
commercials, try the skip button on the player. For some reason this
would allow the "mandatory" Disney commercials to be skipped on some
players.

Disney started doing mandatory commercials in late 1999, but it was
possible, on most players, to skip through them, one at a time. Disney
abandoned the practice after about 6 months and began to add a message
stating that the advertisements could be skipped by pressing the menu
button.

It sounds like Universal is now doing what Disney did 4 years ago. Here
is a recap of Disney's brief experiment with mandatory commercials:

The mandatory commercials are made possible through Disney's use of the
"feature control" function installed on all DVD players. I played my
_Tarzan_ DVD in more than twelve DVD players and it is interesting to
note that skipping through the compulsory previews is handled
differently by some players. On at least two players, it was impossible
to skip through the previews by using the "skip" button on the remote
control. On these players the skip function on the face of the player
allowed the commercials to be passed over. On some players, the
mandatory segments could be skipped by pressing the stop button
immediately after disk initialization, but just before the splash
screen. This would then allow the menu button to function.

[Larry Lynch]

In article <3fd19217$0$13634$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>,
xocsm@optushome.com.au says...
> Many Sony and Yamaha DVD players include UOP override capbilities in
> their advanced mod kits. The UOP (User Operation Prohibition) is the
> feature that allows DVD's to disable various control buttons such as
> skip, fast forward, menu, stop, pause, audio and subtitle select (to
> name a few) in the player. Mod kits with UOP override prevent the player
> from reading and enforcing these controls, thus restoring your ability
> to skip, fast forward ... etc This is something to keep in mind when
> next purchasing a DVD player :)
>
> Oh, and by the way, I too share your wrath and anger at this annoying trend.
>
> MichaelC
>

I will put up with a lot, but I wont put up with ANY disc that disables
pause or stop (or BOTH).

If you are that upset with Universal let them know about it. Im pretty
sure they dont read the newsgroups to sample opinion.

If I had purchased any movie and found there was NO WAY AROUND the
promotions, trailers ect I would return it as defective. If you cant hit
stop-then Menu the disk is defective PERIOD. Whether it was intended to
be that way is irrelevant. If STOP wont stop it, it is defective. Just
like a car that wont stop 'till a red light.

If the retailer wont take it back then contact the Studio.

--
Larry Lynch
Lasting Imagery
Mystic, Ct.

[Speedbyrd]

On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 06:56:50 -0500, Larry Lynch <lastingimagery@comcastdot.net> wrote:

>In article <3fd19217$0$13634$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>,
>xocsm@optushome.com.au says...
>> Many Sony and Yamaha DVD players include UOP override capbilities in
>> their advanced mod kits. The UOP (User Operation Prohibition) is the
>> feature that allows DVD's to disable various control buttons such as
>> skip, fast forward, menu, stop, pause, audio and subtitle select (to
>> name a few) in the player. Mod kits with UOP override prevent the player
>> from reading and enforcing these controls, thus restoring your ability
>> to skip, fast forward ... etc This is something to keep in mind when
>> next purchasing a DVD player :)
>>
>> Oh, and by the way, I too share your wrath and anger at this annoying trend.
>>
>> MichaelC
>>
>
>I will put up with a lot, but I wont put up with ANY disc that disables
>pause or stop (or BOTH).
>


You whiny little delinquents. Should be the worst thing that ever happened to you. Sit down and shut up!

The Speedbyrd :>