From Deseret News archives:
House to back DVD-editing ability
Legislation would benefit Utah-based ClearPlay
Weidle, who is a conservative Christian, simply slipped the disc into a special DVD player from Utah-based ClearPlay Inc.
The device allows him to filter out a range of potentially objectionable content. Instead of watching the version that most consumers saw in the theater, Weidle's version was sanitized.
Now, Congress is poised to give a boost to the ClearPlay system that Weidle uses. This week, the House is expected to pass and send to President Bush legislation that would immunize the content-skipping technology from lawsuits brought by the movie industry.
The legislation, which faces muted opposition, would shield a burgeoning industry that caters to people who want to watch Hollywood blockbusters without gore, profanity or sex. ClearPlay is just one such company; some other firms, such as the Utah-based CleanFlicks, edit out the content from movie DVDs and rent the sterilized versions to subscribers.
The companies argue that if Hollywood won't clean up its act, they have a right to do it for them.
Eight major studios and the Directors Guild of America have filed lawsuits against ClearPlay, CleanFlicks and other, similar companies, on behalf of Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and other Hollywood icons.
Congress is intervening with the legislation, which would give a green light to ClearPlay the company that doesn't permanently alter authorized DVDs. CleanFlicks and other companies that create unauthorized, edited versions of DVDs and then rent those copies to consumers could still be challenged in court under the bill.
The Senate passed the legislation unanimously Feb. 1, and the House is set to take up the measure either March 15 or 16.
Supporters, such as Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, who sponsored the legislation in the House, say the technology rightly gives consumers more control over what they see and hear.
The technology "simply gives parents the right to define what they see when they rent a movie," Smith said.
That's the kind of control Weidle said he wanted.
Comments
- George lost in rivalry hatefest 1:33 a.m.
- Paul returns after being out 1:04 a.m.
- Nets finally win 1:04 a.m.
- Olympus downs Box Elder 1:03 a.m.
- Saint Mary's next for Aggies 1:03 a.m.
- Cougars look to bounce back 1:03 a.m.
- Battle goes to PG's Hamson 1:03 a.m.
- Snow hopes to snap bowl game skid 1:03 a.m.
- U.S. gets favorable World Cup draw 1:03 a.m.
- Utah's Wynn healing up 1:03 a.m.
- Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
410 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
294 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
237 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
184 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
118 - Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
118 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
104
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
and they are correct. Good grief.
In the wake of a great, competitive game all people can talk about is Max...
For those who keep saying there are other places where you can go "to...
Boozer is just doing and showing what he has always had, Talent! As long as...
Condolences to the LeBaron family! He was the mission Pres in South Africa...
I've enjoyed reading Dick Harmon's articles through the years. An enduring...
I think we have found our stride. But we need to bring in one more player to...
to make a move until nearer the deadline. You can't get the best player until...
"If this team had an interior Defense for 48 minutes they would contend. "...
What have you done for me lately, Boozer? Well, lately Boozer has been...




You can be the first to comment on this story.