ClearPlay
Encyclopedia
ClearPlay is an advanced parental control
DVD player
that allows content filtering
of ordinary DVD
films, purchased or rented. ClearPlay is the technology that automatically and seamlessly skips over or mutes undesirable content such as profanity
, graphic violence
, drug
and adult-oriented content, all in real time.
is required, along with what are called Filter files. These files, which are created by ClearPlay editors, will know where the possibly unwanted content is located, even to the exact frame
. This allows the ClearPlay DVD player to block offensive or undesirable content during playback of the DVD. The choice is also made available to watch the film in its original form, by turning the filtering off.
ClearPlay allows users to customize what they want to skip. There are twelve categories of content that can be filtered and with four different levels (none, implied, explicit and graphic). These categories include: Violence, Sex, Nudity and Vulgarity. You will also see a list, before the movie starts, of possibly questionable content that ClearPlay will not remove depending on the movie, scene and/or situation.
USA Today describes ClearPlay as follows:
The methods of removing content also depends on the scenes and user settings. Users can select from four levels of filtering
in each category. Although, if a user chooses to view a movie with closed-caption enabled, the closed captioning text is not filtered during the audio muting of the language/scene, and the offensive text can still be read. In some cases, the scene might be removed entirely, depending on the user settings and/or the discretion of the filter editors. They also accept feedback if people, for example, have suggestions on edited scenes, and/or disagreements with a particular edit.
The filter files interact with the player by way of what is called a FilterStik (a small USB flash drive
which is included with the player). The FilterStik is connected to a computer, the files are downloaded to it through their website, and the FilterStik is then connected to the player. Firmware updates are also occasionally available for the player itself, by way of a similar method.
The Filter files are only available from ClearPlay as a monthly or annually subscribed membership. Unlimited access to the full library of movie Filters are then made available, which contains thousands of filters for various DVDs including most new releases. If filter files for a particular movie are not present, requests can be made through their website.
. One approach, called ClearPlay TV, addresses both live and recorded TV programming with closed captioning through a platform that filters objectionable language
.
Another technology, called ClearPlay PC
, will filter objectionable material using a DVD-ROM based approach from such content as Internet
movie downloads.
ClearPlay is also expanding its reach with several international versions of their DVD player
in the works. One will soon be released in Germany
.
on the grounds that it was a violation of copyright
laws. Although movie studies have been editing their movies for Airlines and TV broadcast for years and continue to do so. However, in 2005, the United States Congress
passed the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
that explicitly clarified the copyright laws to allow for someone to skip or mute the playback of a DVD in their own home as long as they are not modifying the original material.
Nissim Corp. sued ClearPlay in 2004 claiming patent infringement. The action was subsequently resolved by a settlement agreement under which Nissim granted ClearPlay a license to sell certain players that use the CustomPlay Objectionable Content Specifications.
In 2007, Nissim filed a motion to enforce claiming that ClearPlay had not complied with its obligations under the license Agreement and based on that claim sent letters to Target Corp and Best Buy demanding that they stop selling ClearPlay DVD players. In 2009, a Federal Court rejected Nissim's claim that ClearPlay was not in compliance with the settlement agreement. ClearPlay has filed legal action against Nissim for breach of the license agreement, tortious interference, and unfair business practices.
Parental controls
Parental controls are features which may be included in digital television services, computer and video games, mobile phones and computer software...
DVD player
DVD player
A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards. These devices were invented in 1997 and continue to thrive...
that allows content filtering
Re-edited film
A re-edited film is a film that has been edited from the original theatrical release.-Types of re-editing:Films edited for format, length, and content....
of ordinary DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
films, purchased or rented. ClearPlay is the technology that automatically and seamlessly skips over or mutes undesirable content such as profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
, graphic violence
Graphic violence
Graphic violence is the depiction of especially vivid, brutal and realistic acts of violence in visual media such as literature, film, television, and video games...
, drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
and adult-oriented content, all in real time.
How it works
A ClearPlay-enabled DVD playerDVD player
A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards. These devices were invented in 1997 and continue to thrive...
is required, along with what are called Filter files. These files, which are created by ClearPlay editors, will know where the possibly unwanted content is located, even to the exact frame
Film frame
In filmmaking, video production, animation, and related fields, a film frame or video frame is one of the many still images which compose the complete moving picture...
. This allows the ClearPlay DVD player to block offensive or undesirable content during playback of the DVD. The choice is also made available to watch the film in its original form, by turning the filtering off.
ClearPlay allows users to customize what they want to skip. There are twelve categories of content that can be filtered and with four different levels (none, implied, explicit and graphic). These categories include: Violence, Sex, Nudity and Vulgarity. You will also see a list, before the movie starts, of possibly questionable content that ClearPlay will not remove depending on the movie, scene and/or situation.
USA Today describes ClearPlay as follows:
Users choose what content to filter in each movie, via an on-screen menu — "violence, sex and nudity" and "language" — and further customize the category. For example, in "language," viewers can choose to allow "crude language and humor" but filter out "strong profanity," "graphic vulgarity," "ethnic and social slurs" and "vain reference to deity." In all, filtering options offer up to 16,000 combinations.
The methods of removing content also depends on the scenes and user settings. Users can select from four levels of filtering
Content-control software
Content-control software, also known as censorware or web filtering software, is a term for software designed and optimized for controlling what content is permitted to a reader, especially when it is used to restrict material delivered over the Web...
in each category. Although, if a user chooses to view a movie with closed-caption enabled, the closed captioning text is not filtered during the audio muting of the language/scene, and the offensive text can still be read. In some cases, the scene might be removed entirely, depending on the user settings and/or the discretion of the filter editors. They also accept feedback if people, for example, have suggestions on edited scenes, and/or disagreements with a particular edit.
The filter files interact with the player by way of what is called a FilterStik (a small USB flash drive
USB flash drive
A flash drive is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus interface. flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g...
which is included with the player). The FilterStik is connected to a computer, the files are downloaded to it through their website, and the FilterStik is then connected to the player. Firmware updates are also occasionally available for the player itself, by way of a similar method.
The Filter files are only available from ClearPlay as a monthly or annually subscribed membership. Unlimited access to the full library of movie Filters are then made available, which contains thousands of filters for various DVDs including most new releases. If filter files for a particular movie are not present, requests can be made through their website.
New Technologies
The ClearPlay company is adapting its technology to sources beyond DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. One approach, called ClearPlay TV, addresses both live and recorded TV programming with closed captioning through a platform that filters objectionable language
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
.
Another technology, called ClearPlay PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, will filter objectionable material using a DVD-ROM based approach from such content as Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
movie downloads.
ClearPlay is also expanding its reach with several international versions of their DVD player
DVD player
A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards. These devices were invented in 1997 and continue to thrive...
in the works. One will soon be released in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Legal Actions
Early in the development of the ClearPlay technology it was challenged in court by the MPAA and Directors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
on the grounds that it was a violation of copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
laws. Although movie studies have been editing their movies for Airlines and TV broadcast for years and continue to do so. However, in 2005, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act is a federal legislative act regarding copyright that became law in the United States in 2005. The Act consists of two subparts: the Artist's Rights and Theft Prevention Act of 2005, which increases penalties for copyright infringement, and the Family...
that explicitly clarified the copyright laws to allow for someone to skip or mute the playback of a DVD in their own home as long as they are not modifying the original material.
Nissim Corp. sued ClearPlay in 2004 claiming patent infringement. The action was subsequently resolved by a settlement agreement under which Nissim granted ClearPlay a license to sell certain players that use the CustomPlay Objectionable Content Specifications.
In 2007, Nissim filed a motion to enforce claiming that ClearPlay had not complied with its obligations under the license Agreement and based on that claim sent letters to Target Corp and Best Buy demanding that they stop selling ClearPlay DVD players. In 2009, a Federal Court rejected Nissim's claim that ClearPlay was not in compliance with the settlement agreement. ClearPlay has filed legal action against Nissim for breach of the license agreement, tortious interference, and unfair business practices.
Criticisms
Potentially affects the director’s original vision of the film and may compromise certain plots or themes by having them removed from the film.See also
- Re-edited filmRe-edited filmA re-edited film is a film that has been edited from the original theatrical release.-Types of re-editing:Films edited for format, length, and content....
- Canadian Home Video Rating SystemCanadian Home Video Rating SystemThe Canadian Home Video Rating System is a voluntary rating classification system applied to home video products such as VHS and DVDs. It is administered by the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association and as such they appear on American home videos distributed in Canada and not genuine...
- CleanFlicksCleanFlicksCleanFlicks is a Utah-based business which produced edited versions of films to remove content that they considered inappropriate for children or that viewers might otherwise find offensive. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were its predominant market...
- Content-control softwareContent-control softwareContent-control software, also known as censorware or web filtering software, is a term for software designed and optimized for controlling what content is permitted to a reader, especially when it is used to restrict material delivered over the Web...
- Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc. was a court case which established the rights of users to modify copyrighted works for their own use....
- Motion picture rating systemMotion picture rating systemA motion picture rating system is designated to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content...
- Parental AdvisoryParental AdvisoryParental Advisory is a message affixed by the Recording Industry Association of America to audio and recordings in the United States containing excessive use of profane language and/or sexual references. Albums began to be labeled for "explicit lyrics" in 1985, after pressure from the Parents...
- Edit Decision ListEdit decision listAn edit decision list or EDL used in the post-production process of film editing and video editing. The list contains an ordered list of reel and timecode data representing where each video clip can be obtained in order to conform the final cut....
- TV Guardian:http://tvguardian.com/gshell.php
External links
- ClearPlay website
- Sensible Cinema open source DVD Edit decision listEdit decision listAn edit decision list or EDL used in the post-production process of film editing and video editing. The list contains an ordered list of reel and timecode data representing where each video clip can be obtained in order to conform the final cut....
EDL player.