Google Video Store Shutting Down 155
babbling writes "Google is going to close the Google Video Store, leaving users who bought videos that used Digital Restrictions Management without their purchases. The users of Google Video Store will be compensated with Google Checkout credit, but it seems they will be out of luck if they don't happen to be Google Checkout users."
Re:Once again... (Score:5, Interesting)
Now that I look back over my purchases, I see a few shows that were never released to DVD at all. So the only way to watch these is to record them off the air or watch the download that I paid for. Suddenly it looks like I won't have that option now. If I could have done something to protect my investment (I bought it to own, not rent) such as burn it to a CD or backup to another HD I would be fine. As it is, I'm completely screwed, thanks to the whim of some company that cares absolutely nothing about me.
Using this as a way to push Google Checkout is even more evil. Not only do I not get what I paid for, I don't get a refund and to claim my exchange I have to jump through hoops and buy something I didn't want in the first place.
Do no evil my ass!
Re:Once again... (Score:4, Interesting)
Hey, once governments started conflating economies with their *rights* to exist, the calculation of citizen and consumer became inevitable. You will find this as far back in history as you can find organized monetary systems. The problem of course is when companies start thinking of themselves as governments or government entities with certain *rights* that supersede those of citizens. Occasionally, companies and governments forget that they exist because of who their clients or citizens are, and when that happens you have two outcomes: Fascism and state/corporate sponsored war or revolution... take your pick.
Never was for real (Score:2, Interesting)
It was never really any good, and no one other than CNBC anchors ever thought it was for real.
Re:Change of motto. (Score:3, Interesting)
The same fine article which announces the end of the Google Video store announces that Google is getting into video advertising! As if these things are related... hmmm....
Just think. What would it mean if the real purpose of Google's video store was to get their internal video player working well enough that they could do AdSense on video? [sigh]
Re:Piracy is the only consumer guarantee (Score:4, Interesting)
Music is the exception (I know you did not mention it).
Red book music CDs are better fidelity than mp3s, last longer than CDR copies as they don't fade, have nice artwork, and have no intrusive copy protection. The compatibility is outstanding, so you can play them anywhere in the world on any of the billions of CD players out there.
It's a great medium and I'm sad to see it being supplanted by low quality DRM'd audio from iTunes etc.
Re:Google should've followed Microsoft's example (Score:3, Interesting)