By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026Every video format and distribution system that succeeded the VCR shipped with an access control: DVDs, Blu-ray and HD DVD, satellite and digital cable, and, of course, streaming video. 61/ 116310 163
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026This is how they disinvented the VCR. Once every video had an access control, it had "hook IP" that could be used to control *all* technologies that were capable of receiving, storing, or playing back that video. 62/ 115913 159
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026Remember Tivo? The first digital "personal video recorders" were true successors to the VCR. They could record *any* broadcast or cable program, store it forever and fast forward through the ads. They were all "feature" and nary an "anti-feature" in sight. 63/ 118210 182
