And here we go again............... :(

[Ragitsu]

I'm not advocating piracy, but...given the ridiculous limitations and provisos imposed by entertainment companies, I can understand why some choose to sail the high seas.

 

[fireproof78]

Thanks for advices and trying to help out.

Obviously this is a big issue. I can see your point bout complaining on different forums. What I hope is that it will lead to a reaction among dissatisfied customers and result in people starting to complain to Paramount itself.

But as I wrote before, I've sent many mails to Paramount and they simly don't reply. Since I live in Europe, contacting them on the phone can be a costly effort and I've spent enough money on Paramount as it is. However, it vcan be a future option for me.

But I wonder what the result will be. Considering the fact that I did participate in a letter campaign to have Kes returning to Voyager and the result was a horrible episode where the character was humiliated and destroyed. So a similar action when it comes to complaining about the low quality of the DVD.s might result in new DVD.s from paramount which explodes after being wiewed three times. Paramount don't like those who complain.

I mean, you can only do what you have the ability to do. And there is an address to send actual letters to Paramount as well. One thing that I will note is that there might be many who are experiencing this like you but have the same attitude-someone else will complain. My experience with customers is that they will complain to store staff (who have limited power) to their neighbors (who have no power) and to other people but then are not certain how to take it to someone who does have power and organize a response. You might be that person to organize that response.

The other side is the simple fact is that DVDs are cheap. That was the whole purpose of them was to have cheap way to mass produce content to sell. So, unfortunately, with that process comes the possibility of them failing. Usually there is a percentage that is deemed acceptable failures from a process standpoint. The question becomes are these rising above that percentage.

Finally, the only DVDs that will explode after watching it will be Mission Impossible ones.

 

[Lynx]

"Update firmware" should be a selection you can make. It is extremely important as your machine starts to age.

Sure, but first I would take the connector leads to a DVD/Blu-Ray store and ask if there are better ones available for your model.

You should also try the problem discs in a friend's (or the store's) player and see if the freezing issue is in the same place as in your player.

Perhaps too cold/damp?

Definitely not too cold and damp. The storage room with the locker is warm and cozy with no windows.

Maybe a silly question but how do I update firmware on a DVD/Blu-Ray player? I doubt that I can connect it to the Internet like a computer.

When it comes to connector leads, I suppose that you are refering to the cables between the DVD/Blu-Ray player and the TV. I don't understand how this would affect the viewing when it's obviously the DVD which is defect.

And taking my player to the local store and ask them to start changing parts in it will cost me more than buying a new one or at least almost as much.

I did take the malfunctioning DVD disc to a neighbor to check if it worked on their DVD player, the problem remained.

https://help.paramountplus.com/s/ar...eo-to-watch-offline-on-demand#downloadoffline

This is not helpful, but its funny to see the limits they are imposing on us.

1. Install Paramount +
2. Give them money.
3. Upgrade to Paramount + Premium.
4. Give them more money.
5. You can "download" 25 episodes/movies to your library folder on only 5 different devices, legally before reaching a download limit.
6. Every movie/episode you have downloaded will expire after 30 days.
7. Give them more money.

Or you just stick to streaming, which is an annual subscription of $49.99 to $119.99 (depending on the plan you want) which gives you access to all of Star Trek new and old, until you run out of money.

There is a problem with streaming.......
To quote myself from the original post:
I'm not gonna pay a monthly sum to some imbecile streaming company and after about three seasons, I'll be met with "Sorry but this series is no longer available here". And when I contact them, I will get the answer that "We no longer have the rights to Star Trek Deep Space Nine but we have all seasons of Star Trek Discovery which you can watch instead." Such a reply would obviously turn me into a total destructive lunatic and I hope to avoid that.

Something similar actually happened to me when I was streaming another non-SF favorite series of mine. When I was into the third season of 9 or 10 seasons, all of a sudden it was gone from the streaming service. The only message was that it was no longer available. When I contacted the streaming service on the phone, they told me something about rights. Then the operator recommended a series which I wouldn't watch at gunpoint and added "it's very popular". When I told the operator as politely as I could that I hate that series, she couldn't understand it. Poor being. Anyway, I terminated my account to that service the same day.

Not a solution and of course you shouldn't have to, but...

If there's a sizeable enough community out there suffering with bad disc or two in a set, is there an opportunity for people in your situation with several "incomplete" sets ?

If it's not the same disc(s) every time it may be possible to cannibalise the spoiled sets and swap discs with other sufferers to replace the faulty ones you need.

The problem is that I live in a country in Europe where Star Trek has some cult following but isn't a particular big favorite among people. What I can do for now is to order another box and simply replace damaged DVD.s from that one. But due to the rate of how fast those DVD.s become unwatchable, it's not a good idea.

In gaming DVD and Bluray are dead media.

You buy an empty box from the game store, with a serial number which you use to unlock a website, where you down the game onto your console's hard drive.

The game is non transferable and you can only use the a serial a limited number of times. Your console is going to fill up fast and then you're going to have to start deleting games to make room for more games.

This might be the future of home media if streaming isn't.

Maybe you might want to consider a parallel shift to Bluray before the Future arrives?

The real issue will be when "they" stop making DVD players to replace your broken DVD player

It might sound silly but I'm still running an older hockey game on an older computer and I love it!
I don't like the console games. They have no game feeling.

As for Blu-ray, my player is a DVD/Blu-ray player. Unfortunately DS9 is not available on Blu-Ray.

As for the day when "they" will stop making DVD players, I do hope that I'm dead and gone then.

As for the "Never Ending Nightmare", I tried to find a DS9 Season 7 DVD but I had no success with that, at least not in the country where I live.

The only available alternatives are:
1. Buying a new box.
Unfortunately the only available box is totally trashed on the Amazon forums. bad cases, bad discs, etc.

2. Buy season 7 from the US. Or buy the box from the US.
Which will add a lot of extra costs due to the worthless toy currency in the country where I live, shipping costs plus having to pay extra in customs cervice because the US is not a member of the EU dictatorship but my country (or more correctly "province" or "Soviet Republic") is.

So "The Never Ending Nightmare" is what it is.

If there is something which will make me turn my back definitely on Star Trek, then it is this issue.

 

[Lynx]

I mean, you can only do what you have the ability to do. And there is an address to send actual letters to Paramount as well. One thing that I will note is that there might be many who are experiencing this like you but have the same attitude-someone else will complain. My experience with customers is that they will complain to store staff (who have limited power) to their neighbors (who have no power) and to other people but then are not certain how to take it to someone who does have power and organize a response. You might be that person to organize that response.

The other side is the simple fact is that DVDs are cheap. That was the whole purpose of them was to have cheap way to mass produce content to sell. So, unfortunately, with that process comes the possibility of them failing. Usually there is a percentage that is deemed acceptable failures from a process standpoint. The question becomes are these rising above that percentage.

Finally, the only DVDs that will explode after watching it will be Mission Impossible ones.

Well, I can always write a letter to Paramount. But to who? And how big are the chances that the person I send it to will throw it in the nearest trashcan?

Organize something in the backward country where I live is almost impossible, especially since Star trek isn't a big issue here. Not to mention is that the only time people react over here is when they rise the prices of acohol or when the wrong song wins in the Eurovision Song Contest.

I think it would be easier if I lived in the US where people at least have some guts.

But I will continue to try to reach someone at Paramount.

DVD.s may be cheap to produce. But they aren't that cheap to buy, at least not when it comes to those boxes which I constantly have to buy to replace the DVD.s which have a very limited lifespan. Add to this the problems with buying them from the US which I described in an earlier post.

As I wrote before, if there is something which will make me turn my back definitely on Star Trek, then it is this issue.

 

[Ragitsu]

Maybe a silly question but how do I update firmware on a DVD/Blu-Ray player? I doubt that I can connect it to the Internet like a computer.

Certain media players are equipped with USB ports (or other comparable ports) that allow you to connect a storage device (e.g., a flash drive) loaded with the firmware upgrade.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, I can always write a letter to Paramount. But to who? And how big are the chances that the person I send it to will throw it in the nearest trashcan?

The head of Paramount's Movie division. There should be contact information the DVD box.

Organize something in the backward country where I live is almost impossible, especially since Star trek isn't a big issue here.

You're posting on an international board. I think you can find people around the world who share the concerns. I mean, I did a brief Google/Bing search and found another forum discussing coloration issues on another Paramount DVD.

As I wrote before, if there is something which will make me turn my back definitely on Star Trek, then it is this issue.

Ok, and?

 

[Lynx]

Ok, and?

Simply having to abandon a lifelong interest will leave an empty hole in my heart.

 

[fireproof78]

Simply having to abandon a lifelong interest will leave an empty hole in my heart.

At the risk of sounding extremely insensitive, but wouldn't you find a new interest? Life is not some static event with us remaining the same. It's a deeply dynamic activity that allows up to change and grow as we get older.

But more than that, given the interest in fan fiction that I have seen you express I highly doubt it would go away altogether but sublimate in to a new expression or interest. Especially if you're in constant contention over the direction of the franchise. Why not free up resources for interests you enjoy, rather than continue with obligation?

 

[Lynx]

At the risk of sounding extremely insensitive, but wouldn't you find a new interest? Life is not some static event with us remaining the same. It's a deeply dynamic activity that allows up to change and grow as we get older.

But more than that, given the interest in fan fiction that I have seen you express I highly doubt it would go away altogether but sublimate in to a new expression or interest. Especially if you're in constant contention over the direction of the franchise. Why not free up resources for interests you enjoy, rather than continue with obligation?

You just don't change interests like changing siocks. An interest is something which starts within and builds up from there, it's not something that can be replaced by something else just like that.

People who change interests just because for the sake of changing are people without passion, people who just "float above" everything and joins something only for the sake of being popular among the "right" people or to look important. When that particular interest is no longer an issue among the "right" people, they change to a new interest to stay in the spotlight. They are just people who follow with the wind and I can't stand them.

To keep the interest and maybe come up with some fan fiction, I need those DVD:s for inspiration. Without that possibility, the interest will fade and be replaced by..................what?

In this doom-and-gloom decade, there are fewer and fewer items that are interesting. There are no good rock bands anymore and the last TV series I followed was NCIS. Sports games can be an issue, I do follow certain sports teams but all of it has been so commercialized that it's about to lose its soul.

So it could actually be nice to have DS9 to watch from time to time. I rather watch The Jem'Hadar for the umpteenth time than waste my time on one of those doom-and-gloom series which have become so "popular" .

So it would be nice to still have that opportunity.

 

[fireproof78]

You just don't change interests like changing siocks. An interest is something which starts within and builds up from there, it's not something that can be replaced by something else just like that.

No one said that. But an interest has to start somewhere. Star Trek is an interest of mine, but that is born out of an interest in space travel in general, and science fiction in particular. So, it isn't changing it; it's moving the interest in to a different direction.

People who change interests just because for the sake of changing are people without passion, people who just "float above" everything and joins something only for the sake of being popular among the "right" people or to look important. When that particular interest is no longer an issue among the "right" people, they change to a new interest to stay in the spotlight. They are just people who follow with the wind and I can't stand them.

Ok, that's fair, but not what I am saying at all.

To keep the interest and maybe come up with some fan fiction, I need those DVD:s for inspiration. Without that possibility, the interest will fade and be replaced by..................what?

Why not share that with fellow fans, like on here? Talking about different facets of episodes? Exploring other ideas within books or fan fiction. I don't know. I don't rely on episodes for inspiration but look to fan art, YT theories, fan fiction, and RPGs for inspiration for what I do. I also look at research in different fields to take technological developments and build upon those.

Sorry, again, I sound insensitive, but it feels like Star Trek has become a box rather than an inspiration. But, maybe I'm misreading it.

Regardless, I sympathize with wanting the DVDs. I have a JAG DVD with a poor coding but it thankfully works well enough to watch episodes. So, I might miss some episodes but it works overall. But, like I suggested earlier reaching out to others (even on this board) and seeing if they have issues with DVDs, not just Trek but Paramount DVDs, might lead you to getting a bigger group to write to Paramount.

 

[douwed]

In this doom-and-gloom decade, there are fewer and fewer items that are interesting. There are no good rock bands anymore and the last TV series I followed was NCIS. Sports games can be an issue, I do follow certain sports teams but all of it has been so commercialized that it's about to lose its soul.

Allow me to respond to the idea that there are no more good rockbands with just three words: ONE OK ROCK

Truly an awesome (modernday) rockband! (To name just one, there are many more)

 

[fireproof78]

Allow me to respond to the idea that there are no more good rockbands with just three words: ONE OK ROCK

Truly an awesome (modernday) rockband! (To name just one, there are many more)

If we're doing that I would add "The HU" who are my current favorite band.

 

[Guy Gardener]

You could just wait.

The original law, which is well and dead, put copyright claims at no longer than 56 years before a piece of property would then fall into the public domain. That means that 2022 would've been the year that Trek entered the public domain, as it was launched initially in 1966.

And...

In '98 Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 (the Bono Act), which had various provisions but basically just added 20 years to everything. Ergo, under current law, the early episodes of TOS enter the public domain in the early 2060's. (The Cage might be a few years earlier because of arcane rules about what counts as publication which I don't understand.) Over the next 51 years every additional episode will slowly enter the PD as of 95 years after its premiere.

Piracy may be stealing from them, but skeevily extending their copyright and denying the public domain is stealing from us.

 

[Ragitsu]

skeevily extending their copyright and denying the public domain is stealing from us.

*cough*LORDOFTHERINGS*cough*

 

[kkt]

Piracy may be stealing from them, but skeevily extending their copyright and denying the public domain is stealing from us.

I'm no fan of the copyright extension either, BUT what Lynx is interested in is DS9 that was made in the 1990s, so even under the old rules it wouldn't start to go into the public domain until the late 2040s.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I'm no fan of the copyright extension either, BUT what Lynx is interested in is DS9 that was made in the 1990s, so even under the old rules it wouldn't start to go into the public domain until the late 2040s.

That's not so far away.

The number cited by google in the above quote is 95 years.

1993 + 95 = 2088.

Which is a fair wag.

Unless they change the law again.

 

[Ragitsu]

That's not so far away.

If we had life-extension technologies (affordable or even free life-extension technologies, to be specific...), I'd feel less bitter about copyright extension.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Only three countries, Eritrea, Turkmenistan and San Marino, are said by the U.S. Copyright Office to have no copyright protection either for authors within their borders or for foreign works.

If you are willing to move to Turkmenistan, or allow your houseboat to drift into international waters, you can legally torrent Deep Space Nine and keep rewatching it over and over again, so long as you stay removed from any zone of authority which respects international copyright law.

 

[Lynx]

No one said that. But an interest has to start somewhere. Star Trek is an interest of mine, but that is born out of an interest in space travel in general, and science fiction in particular. So, it isn't changing it; it's moving the interest in to a different direction.

Well, it started that way for me once and I'm still keeping an eye on that.
But the development is to slow for my taste. It's been ages since he moon landing and not much is happening.

Ok, that's fair, but not what I am saying at all.

Why not share that with fellow fans, like on here? Talking about different facets of episodes? Exploring other ideas within books or fan fiction. I don't know. I don't rely on episodes for inspiration but look to fan art, YT theories, fan fiction, and RPGs for inspiration for what I do. I also look at research in different fields to take technological developments and build upon those.

Which is exactly what I'm doing.
Then some discussion comes up about a certain episode and I think "hey, I have to cjheck that out!" and realizes that this particular episode is on one of the damaged DVD: and so I lose all inspiration and will to debate further.

Sorry, again, I sound insensitive, but it feels like Star Trek has become a box rather than an inspiration. But, maybe I'm misreading it.

Maybe a box but a box where I can relax after another day in The Gray Universe.

Regardless, I sympathize with wanting the DVDs. I have a JAG DVD with a poor coding but it thankfully works well enough to watch episodes. So, I might miss some episodes but it works overall. But, like I suggested earlier reaching out to others (even on this board) and seeing if they have issues with DVDs, not just Trek but Paramount DVDs, might lead you to getting a bigger group to write to Paramount.

Unfortunately, DS9 is the series where it's necessary to watch all the episodes in order.
What I'm actually trying to do here is make people aware of Paramount's schemes when it comes to distribute lousy DVD.s and make money out of it. My hope is that people will react and I'm surprised that it hasn't already happened.

Allow me to respond to the idea that there are no more good rockbands with just three words: ONE OK ROCK

Truly an awesome (modernday) rockband! (To name just one, there are many more)

Not bad, but a little to lightweight and 80:s synth pop style for my taste.

If we you are willing to move to Turkmenistan, or allow your houseboat to drift into international waters, you can legally torrent Deep Space Nine and keep rewatching it over and over again, so long as you stay removed from any zone of authority which respects international copyright law.

I would prefer Mars or some other planet. I'm getting tired of the constant mess on Earth.

 

[Ragitsu]

Maybe a box but a box where I can relax after another day in The Gray Universe.

That just so happens to be the key reason why I am visiting old(er) entertainment; I tire of thoroughly unlikeable protagonists characterized as "deep" and setting morality that is murky at best. Thankfully, there is plenty of untapped vintage material to satisfy me for a good long while .