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- From: phaedrus@halcyon.com (Mark Phaedrus)
- Subject: Re: Tape protection
- Message-ID: <1992Dec21.055017.12108@nwnexus.WA.COM>
- Sender: sso@nwnexus.WA.COM (System Security Officer)
- Organization: The 23:00 News and Mail Service
- References: <92353.131506RMCCU@CUNYVM.BITNET> <1992Dec19.204433.689@osf.org> <1992Dec20.205817.2679@nynexst.com>
- Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 05:50:17 GMT
- Lines: 21
-
- In article <1992Dec20.205817.2679@nynexst.com> schwartz@nynexst.com writes:
- >Why do rental cassettes have a sticker on the seam, reading:
- >"IF YOU REMOVE THIS STICKER, YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THIS TAPE."
- >Does opening the tape facilitate copying it?
-
- Opening the cassette doesn't facilitate copying it, but it does facilitate
- stealing it. First, copy the rented cassette onto a blank one. Then, open
- the two cassettes, and switch the tapes inside. Now, close everything up and
- return the rented cassette. You now have the real thing, and the rental store
- has the copy (though it's inside the original shell). Since there's usually
- a distinct difference in quality between an original tape and even a first-
- generation copy, this is something the video stores do have to watch out for.
- (Of course, before you start feeling *too* sorry for the video stores,
- bear in mind that some "repair" damaged tapes by pulling the exact same stunt--
- opening up the damaged cassette, junking the damaged tape, and substituting a
- copy. So you wind up renting a copy for the price of an original.)
- --
- \o\ Internet: phaedrus@halcyon.com (Seattle, WA Public Access Unix) \o\
- \o\ "How'd you like to move a few steps down the food chain, pal?" \o\
- \o\ If you enjoy fantasy/SF stories with transformation themes, email me \o\
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