--- Forwarded Message from "Perkins, Jonathan" <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Subject: RE: #9007 The death of VHS is upon us!
>Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:33:48 -0600
>Thread-Topic: #9007 The death of VHS is upon us!
>Thread-Index: AclFk46ILlGlnxALSFC7F9B9DRa02QAELsIM
>References: A<[log in to unmask]>
>From: "Perkins, Jonathan" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum"   
<[log in to unmask]>


As I understand the exemption regarding "obsolete formats", it applies only to
computer programs and video games.  As such, VHS to DVD conversions are not
covered.  If I am wrong about this, and I hope I am , how we would determine
when "the machine or system necessary to render perceptible a work stored in
that format is no longer manufactured or is no longer reasonably available in
the commercial marketplace."  If amazon.com stops selling VCRs is that a green
light to start converting our VHS tapes?

Jon


-----Original Message-----
From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum on behalf
of LLTI-Editor
Sent: Thu 11/13/2008 7:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: #9007 The death of VHS is upon us!
 
--- Forwarded Message from "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:20:35 -0500
>From: "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: The death of VHS is upon us!

For some odd reason two of our three Samsung SV-5000W multi-standard VHS players
died at about the same time a few weeks ago, so I called Samsung, got an RMA and
sent one off to be repaired. Well, today I got a call from Samsung informing me
that the unit cannot be repaired and that they're refunding the repair cost.
From a brief chat with the Samsung rep. I came away with the impression that
we've pretty much reached the end of the line as far as these units go. Samsung
doesn't seem to even have much in the way of parts left to service them. They're
also not selling anything in the way of a replacement. 

So it looks like you should begin converting your foreign video holdings now, if
you've still got some and want to be able to play them back in the future. If
VHS hasn't yet fallen under the "obsolete format" exemption to the DMCA, then I
suspect it will shortly.

David Flores
Director: Language Learning Center
Loyola College in Maryland
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
Ph: (410) 617-5230
Fax: (410) 617 2859


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