Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?

[borgward]

Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?

[mxFlush]

I've never had a problem with it.

[woodpush]

not play or play?
Do you mean by default? Because ubuntu can play dvds after installing a few files..

[tgm4883]

Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?

Probably because you haven't installed the proper package for decoding css https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

Depending on where you live, that may be illegal and you may need to purchase a DVD player from the software centre.

[mikewhatever]

Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?

Because people that designed the DVD format had gone out of their ways to make it difficult, and sometimes impossible to play DVDs the way they don't want you to. Yet, as for your info, Ubuntu does play commercial DVDs.

[borgward]

I've never had a problem with it.
yours played them, out of the box, fresh installation, did not have to add any additional codecs, etc? if so what country are you in?

[tgm4883]

yours played them, out of the box, fresh installation, did not have to add any additional codecs, etc? if so what country are you in?

He never said that, don't put words into peoples mouths. Read the links provided and install the required software if you want to watch encrypted dvd's

[asmoore82]

I've never had a problem with it.

yours played them, out of the box, fresh installation, did not have to add any additional codecs, etc? if so what country are you in?

He never said that, don't put words into peoples mouths. Read the links provided and install the required software if you want to watch encrypted dvd's
He definitely implied that.

This is a support forum, "I've never had a problem with it." is hardly helpful — just elitist spam.

The other helpful comments are correct. It's not that Ubuntu is designed
not to play DVD's; it's just not always allowed to. "Fill in the blanks"
packages are available and install in seconds — if legal in your territory.

[Hoopz]

Just use vlc It will play just about anything

[Old *ix Geek]

Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?It doesn't? :eek: I'd better put all my DVDs away, then, because I normally watch them on my Kubuntu laptop, but now that I know that's impossible, I have no use for them! ):P (I'm too lazy to go use the DVD player in the living room.)

[uRock]

Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?
You can find your fix here. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Moved to Recurring Discussions.

[NMFTM]

Why does Ubuntu not play commercial movie DVD's?
I think the bigger question is, why would you want to? Steaming is where it's at. DVD's are sooooo last decade.

[ubuntu27]

I think the bigger question is, why would you want to? Steaming is where it's at. DVD's are sooooo last decade.

Steaming? Do you mean Streaming?

I googled just in cased I missed on a new technology :popcorn:

*****

Hello borgward. Ubuntu and other GNU/Linux Operating System can play DVD and Bluray, the problem is that the copyright holders and movie industries has made very difficult for independent software makers to enable playback of those formats.

As I said in a post in another thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1692360) similar to this (which was about Bluray. Similar conditions apply)


There will be no Bluray playback by default in Ubuntu or any other Free Operating Systems because the copy right and restrictive licenses prevents for anyone to create a media player able to play those formats without authorization.

Blueray uses Digital Restriction Managements (DRM) that prevents it to be used on devices that has not receive approval from the "big corporations"

You can, however, enable playback of Blueray and other restricted proprietary formats manually thanks to the people who has tried and is trying to enable the use of those formats to comply with Fair Use Rights.

For more information visit:

Restricted Formats (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats)

Philosophy of the GNU Project (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/) (a.k.a. Philosophy of Free Software)

Opposing Digital Rights Mismanagement (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/opposing-drm.html)

The Customer Is Always Wrong: A User's Guide to DRM in Online Music (http://www.eff.org/pages/customer-always-wrong-users-guide-drm-online-music)

The Top 10 Arguments Against DRM (http://www.learnoutloud.com/content/blog/archives/2006/11/the_top_10_argu.html)

Copyright versus Community in the Age of Computer Networks (http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/copyright-versus-community.html)

DRM: Defective By Design (http://www.defectivebydesign.org/)

[andymorton]

I think the bigger question is, why would you want to? Steaming is where it's at. DVD's are sooooo last decade.

Nothing wrong with something retro now and again. My girlfriend still watches movies on VHS tapes. :popcorn:

I think the easiest way to play DVDs with Ubuntu is by going to the help and support section, click on 'Playing DVDs', click the links to the packages to make sure they're installed and then type the command into the terminal. Sorted!

[uRock]

I think the bigger question is, why would you want to? Steaming is where it's at. DVD's are sooooo last decade.
Kind of an odd response when Netflix doesn't work in Linux. Also, after being a member you get bored with their list after a few months. Not to mention that Comcast is the ISP for a large part of the country and plans to block Netflix service.

[rg4w]

I think the bigger question is, why would you want to? Steaming is where it's at. DVD's are sooooo last decade.
I guess he should just use Netflix. ;)

So where is the line with the DRM licensing?

I understand that Ubuntu can't include those fancy codecs with the default install, and right now new users are required to search the web and find the two commands to run in Terminal to install them.

Would it be a legalistic nightmare if Ubuntu offered to install those for the user on first boot?

Right now it's a usability nightmare, a recurring dream we see over and over in this and other forums. It makes Ubuntu look less capable than it is.