Scott Berry

Cablevision Wins Remote Storage DVR Case - Consumers Win Too

Seth,

Perhaps I'm just an anti-cloud guy, or like swimming upstream. While I applaud the legal decision, I'm not so sanguine on the concept.

1. Once I've paid for content via subscription, why would I want to put the telecablecos in the position to charge me for a "service" that essentially sells me the same content again?

2. Despite the rabid enthusiasm for cloud computing, storage is pretty damn cheap, and bandwidth (at least in the U.S.) remains expensive. Particularly last mile bandwidth. Companies whining about insufficient bandwidth for downloading on their nets seem to have no problem providing it if *they* control the content. Funny, that.

3. Yes, TiVOs and the like are expensive, but perhaps not in a relative sense. Plus you can't control the place-shifting if it isn't on a device under your control. Yet another "service" the telecablecos will be happy to charge you for.

Bottom line, its all about retaining (or regaining) control of the content, which is a bad thing in my book. Beware strangers offering candy.