Microsoft cracks down on country specific content

This is garbage. We don't have access to this shit...and when we make an acccount to gain access to it...we get screwed...and now tell me...how is this fair?

(I better download some more free themes and gamerpics before they wreck my account...)

I can guarantee as soon as microsoft changes this someone out there will find a way to go against it and "screw" microsoft over again...

"And before you get on Microsoft's case you may want to direct your anger towards individual governments or the movie studios in general. Microsoft is just playing by the rules guys."

read much?

whatever.... they could just leave it the way it is and they could say they are still complying with copyright laws, they just want to make it more difficult for other people

'"And before you get on Microsoft's case you may want to direct your anger towards individual governments or the movie studios in general. Microsoft is just playing by the rules guys."

read much?'

yes i read that, but really, its my choice at whom i direct my anger at. As far as i know, Canada and America have freedom of speech, unless it has been revoked in the past several hours, in which case theres no way I wouldn't have heard about it yet.

I see this still as microsoft's fault. Its complete bullshit that they keep blaming it on the corporations that release the same movies all over the world or the governments that deal with business like these all over the world. Microsoft is just lazy and focuses on the US too much. IF they wanted to expand their market more, they COULD (since Microsoft is such a huge company) push governments and the movie companies to allow this...but really...they don't give even a crumb of shit about this topic. They just want everything secure. And thats what screwed them over with Vista as well.

If they're going to check via IP address you could simply setup a proxy that makes you appear like you're coming from the US. If they have some way of checking your xbox serial # though, that probably tells where the console was sold, and would be hard to get around.

I said it on Joystiq so I'll guess I'll say it here...man, I love living in America, lol. I bet it does suck for people in other countries though.

"IF they wanted to expand their market more, they COULD (since Microsoft is such a huge company) push governments and the movie companies to allow this"

Why does everyone think that Microsoft can somehow bully everyone into submission? They're a software/hardware manufacturer, not an administrative branch of a sovereign government or a lobbying arm of the media industry.

Sorry, but you're wrong. The MPAA is a relentlessly aggressive organization and they really don't care what Microsoft has to say about this, nor does any other regulatory body.

While the Live Marketplace is gaining ground in the online content distribution world, they still don't have the clout to push around the major studios into submission... No one does.

They make the content, they make the rules. Not Microsoft.... Nuff said.

Microsoft, contrary to belief, cannot just wildy flail their arms and make magic happen. Get over it.

They had a hard enough time keeping Internet Explorer in their operating systems after the anti-trust lawsuits from years ago, what makes you think that governments bend to their will when it comes to the distribution of intellectual properties they don't physically own?

Microsoft is only screwing themselves. There's no reason for me to get a larger hard driver or an Xbox Elite if I can't download any movies or tv show episodes. I'm saving money on not having to upgrade and not having to pay for more crap on Xbox Live.

I don't see living in Canada as being a bad point. Free healthcare and good beer as compared to being able to download movies from Xbox live and... rat piss.

Microsoft needs Hollywood right now more than Hollywood needs Microsoft. If MS didn't make every plausible effort to comply with the regs, you'd see the trickle of content on VMP dry up like a prune.

All this whining about "who to blame". Copyrights, usage rights & laws obviously vary between countries. It comes down to making money & the US is based on capitalism, not communism. So if you don't like it, change your laws &/or economic system.

yep i now think im going to pass up on an elite and buy myself a nice upconverting DVD player with HDMI output, any suggestions? i heard samsung was good.

im in canada and our video marketplace has red vs blue, thats about it...

Will this block me (an American) from downloading Japanese game demo's? (of games that aren't coming to the US specifically)

@DjDATZ

I think I found a solution. Move really fucking close to U.S.-Canadian border. Then tap into the cable on the U.S. side. Extent it to your house and boom. Not only FREE internet, but no stupid law. Ofcourse you're breaking about 4 U.S. Federal laws and 3 Canadian Laws, but hey at least you get the stuff we do, right?

Lets hear it for globalism.

Does anyone know if this will affect already downloaded content we have on our hdd's ? As i have downloaded several things via my US account.....

BV: This is from the gamerscoreblog.
"One important thing to note – if you have in the past downloaded content from an Xbox Live Marketplace in a country different to that in which you live, that content WILL remain on your hard drive. It’s yours for keeps. But you will not be able to download any more. "

Hmmm.... I have an American Xbox, American Credit Card Number, and I live in China. Am I about to get blocked from all USA content?

If it is only movies, I can live with it, but please don't take my demos!