From Deseret News archives:
No smugness at ClearPlay
"While it may be good for ClearPlay, it's bad for parents," Aho said of the July 6 decision by a U.S. district judge who ruled that cutting "objectionable content" from films violates federal copyright law.
The court decision ended a three-year court battle between CleanFlicks and other video stores that edit "objectional content" in movies and 16 Hollywood directors, including Steven Spielberg and Robert Redford, and several entertainment studios including Disney.
In his decision, Judge Richard P. Matsch wrote that the video stores' actions compromised the artistic expression in the movies and violated copyright laws. As a result of the ruling, the video stores have taken their edited movies off the shelves. Some companies announced they will close their doors.
As the competition clears the field, Aho wishes the courts would allow the companies to continue their services.
"Moms and dads need all the help they can get to protect their kids," he said, "And these companies were providing a valuable service."
Now that the measure clarifies the legality of ClearPlay's business practices, Aho doesn't expect any more trouble from the Directors' Guild of America or motion-picture studios.
"I don't think they have the stomach for another round," he said.
Matt Jarman, inventor of the ClearPlay technology, said the company differs from CleanFlicks and CleanFilms because ClearPlay offers customers the ability to decide what they want to filter out of a movie, instead of merely altering the videos and then re-selling them in edited form.
"The point is to give the customers options," he said.
In a back room at ClearPlay's headquarters, Jarman and a handful of employees peruse each newly released movie, categorizing possibly offensive content into 14 different filter settings, including categories for violence, sex and nudity, language, and drug use. The settings and categories for that particular movie are stored in the company library with about 2,000 other movies. Customers can download the movie settings to their DVD player via the Internet for a monthly membership fee.
Before they watch the movie, customers can select which content they want to filter. The DVD is never physically altered during the process, Jarman said. Moreover, with all the options of what to filter and what not to filter, customers have approximately 16,000 options on what to filter in the same movie, he said.
"Hollywood's message has always been, 'It's up to the parents to decide,' " Jarman said. "So let's well-equip the parents."
E-mail: jdana@desnews.com
Recent comments
One of the best products we have ever owned!
Anonymous | June 7, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.
This is wonderful. I had not heard of this product before, however,...
Anonymous | Nov. 1, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.
So why in the name of all that's decent, can't studios sell the clean...
Travis | Sept. 12, 2008 at 9:21 p.m.
- Holiday television program listings 1:02 a.m.
- Williams, Rose celebrate by playing 12:46 a.m.
- Utes to get tested by Illinois 12:40 a.m.
- Cougs to host Weber St. 12:39 a.m.
- Efforts to save a life praised 12:29 a.m.
- Settle fights, set tone of marriage 12:28 a.m.
- Clearfield balking at UTA plan 12:26 a.m.
- New administration bldg for Davis 12:26 a.m.
- Gallery: Thanksgiving in Utah 12:14 a.m.
- National news briefs 12:12 a.m.
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Rivalry has had some 'turkeys'
- Holiday television program listings
- Highland players make special friend
- Temple Square to use LEDs
- Salt Lake City woman shot
- Matt Reynolds vs. Koa Misi
- Provo star leads Bulldogs to win
- Missions teach players perseverance
- Cave rescuers committed to free man
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
262 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
211 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
202 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
139 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
132 - Boys basketball rankings
117 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
112 - Hall, Johnson matchup key
102 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
98
Can someone please tell me which top 10 team Max has won? I hope the Jeff...
The old recipie for good economy is to just cut taxes to spur investment and...
Respect? Why show respect for another human being who's opinions and...
The problem is, Sarah Palin ist not a competent politician. She begs to be...
Please do tell which of his facts were stupid? Your best ever got smocked at...
Honestly. Kyle cannot be moved with the contract. I would rather see CJ<...
So many conclusions, based on false assumptions, so many haters, with...
If Carlos continues to play like this instead of hearing "boo" at ESA, maybe...
With all that tradition they can't seem to compete on the national stage....
Hint: You notice (like I predicted) no mention of any Jazz interest in...



