Re: Master and Commander recurring dots

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, jgmclean0
@aol.com says...
>  As someone else no doubt will explain in greater detail, they are a ridiculous
> anti-piracy scheme dreamed up by Jack Valenti's bordering-on-insane MPAA.  The
> idea is that each print has a different pattern of dots and that they are big
> enough to show up on pirated copies (so that pirates will be traceable to a
> particular print/theater).  

I'd drop "bordering-on-". Anyone who studies security knows enough ask 
"if we do this, what will the opponent do to defeat it?" In this case, 
editing out the frame with the dots seems a trivial countermeasure to 
defeat the MPAA.

Also note that this counter-measure is *not* directed to the true 
opponent. The true opponent is the guy with the videocam, not the 
theater. The theater should be an ally of the Hollywood studios, but the 
MPAA may turn them into opponents.
-- 
Kevin Willoughby         [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Imagine that, a FROG ON-OFF switch, hardly the work 
for test pilots. -- Mike Collins