ClearPlay

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.

How it works

A ClearPlay-enabled DVD player 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:

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 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.

New Technologies

The ClearPlay company is adapting its technology to sources beyond DVD. 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.

Legal Actions

Early in the development of the ClearPlay technology it was challenged in court by the MPAA and Directors Guild of America 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.

In 2004, ClearPlay was sued by Nissim Corp., a patent-holding, product-less company, for alleged patent infringement. ClearPlay counterclaimed that Nissim’s patents were invalid. The action was subsequently resolved by a settlement agreement. In 2007, Nissim filed a motion to enforce the settlement agreement, alleging that ClearPlay had not complied with the agreement, while simultaneously sending letters to ClearPlay’s business partners threatening them with a lawsuit if they did not end their relationships with ClearPlay. In 2009, ClearPlay prevailed on three of the four Nissim claims. [Nissim Corp. v. ClearPlay, Inc., at. al., 04-21140-cv-PCH, United States District Court of the Southern District of Florida, Partial Order on Nissim Corp.’s Motion to Enforce Settlement Agreement, March 3, 2009.] In 2011, the Court dismissed the one remaining claim as moot. [Id. at Order Granting ClearPlay, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss the 2004 Proceeding as Moot, December 21, 2011.]

In 2007, ClearPlay filed suit against Nissim for breach of the license agreement, tortious interference, and unfair business practices, based, in part, on Nissim’s destruction of its relationships with Target Corp., Best Buy, and Samsung. [ClearPlay, Inc. v. Nissim Corp. and Max Abecassis, 07-cv-81170-PCH, United States District Court of the Southern District of Florida.] In 2011, the Court granted summary judgment for Nissim. In 2012, ClearPlay appealed the Federal Court’s ruling. [Id. at Notice of Appeal, Jan. 13, 2012.] The appeal is currently pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

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_film
• Canadian Home Video Rating System
• CleanFlicks
• Content-control software
• Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.
• Motion picture rating system
• Parental Advisory
• Edit Decision List
• TV Guardian:http://tvguardian.com/gshell.php

External links

• ClearPlay website
• Sensible Cinema open source DVD Edit decision list EDL player.