Can't Rent Movies from Google if Rooted

**idiotekniques** · 03-07-2012, 08:06 PM

flying tomorrow and went to rent a movie from the android market. had to download play movies. when i installed that, said i could not rent movies because i was rooted.

google getting more like apple. screw them.

give Play Movies a 1 star review, at this point more than half of them are 1-star reviews from rooted people that pretty much want to legitimately PAY to rent a movie. like myself.

**xxfallacyxx** · 03-07-2012, 08:18 PM

Curious, did it ask for superuser access?

**coolbreeze** · 03-07-2012, 09:48 PM

I think this has been the case since day one.

Sent from my HTC Rezound 4G using Tapatalk

**buckifvr** · 03-07-2012, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by xxfallacyxx

Curious, did it ask for superuser access?

I have this problem as well, not that I would use it much, but no it did not ask for superuser access. The app knew I was rooted and said it would not work. That's it.

**humpagardengnome** · 03-07-2012, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by buckifvr

I have this problem as well, not that I would use it much, but no it did not ask for superuser access. The app knew I was rooted and said it would not work. That's it.

^this

**MrSmith317** · 03-08-2012, 08:01 AM

They're assuming(mostly correctly) that a rooted user may circumvent their DRM and copy the protected movie content. So they're protecting their investment...makes sense to me. Put a script on your phone to move superuser.apk to a backup directory. Watch your movie, then move it back...

**Dovahkiin** · 03-08-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by MrSmith317

They're assuming(mostly correctly) that a rooted user may circumvent their DRM and copy the protected movie content. So they're protecting their investment...makes sense to me. Put a script on your phone to move superuser.apk to a backup directory. Watch your movie, then move it back...

The situation here is crap. As Android users, we pretty much need to root to get anything done. But in order to rent movies, we're not allowed to root. Would people give up rooting for movie rentals? No. So the only other paths are either pirating, or no rental at all, which means no monetary transaction. Ball's in your court, Google.

**Paradocks** · 03-08-2012, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Dovahkiin

The situation here is crap. As Android users, we pretty much need to root to get anything done. But in order to rent movies, we're not allowed to root. Would people give up rooting for movie rentals? No. So the only other paths are either pirating, or no rental at all, which means no monetary transaction. Ball's in your court, Google.

I'm not rooted and I get everything done that I want to get done. People who root their phones constitute a small minority of users. Why should Google bend over backwards to appease a tiny percentage of users?

Sent from my Rezound using Tapatalk

**humpagardengnome** · 03-08-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Paradocks

I'm not rooted and I get everything done that I want to get done. People who root their phones constitute a small minority of users. Why should Google bend over backwards to appease a tiny percentage of users?

Sent from my Rezound using Tapatalk

Not sure what you're reading. Who asked anyone to bend over backwards to appease them? They offer rooted users software in the market so it makes little sense to block access to parts of the market for the crime of putting them to use being rooted. It's silly to offer it and ban you foe usibg it in an open source environment. To be honest, I could give a turd about Google movies. I never would've known about this whole topic had I not read the OP and tried it myself. I'm unafffected by using the market for movies, My only worry arises if this starts spreading w/ all this SOPA & piracy paranoia floating around these days. What's next?

**dmmarck** · 03-08-2012, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by humpagardengnome

Not sure what you're reading. Who asked anyone to bend over backwards to appease them? They offer rooted users software in the market so it makes little sense to block access to parts of the market for the crime of putting them to use being rooted. It's silly to offer it and ban you foe usibg it in an open source environment. To be honest, I could give a turd about Google movies. I never would've known about this whole topic had I not read the OP and tried it myself. I'm unafffected by using the market for movies, My only worry arises if this starts spreading w/ all this SOPA & piracy paranoia floating around these days. What's next?

I don't think it has anything to do with SOPA/piracy paranoia (at least from Google's perspective), but more with the contracts/agreements with the studios who enable rentals. They probably won't nothing to do with circumvention, so as a term of the agreement had it so rooted users cannot rent movies so as to find a workaround for the DRM.

**buckifvr** · 03-08-2012, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by MrSmith317

They're assuming(mostly correctly) that a rooted user may circumvent their DRM and copy the protected movie content. So they're protecting their investment...makes sense to me. Put a script on your phone to move superuser.apk to a backup directory. Watch your movie, then move it back...

So if superuser is not on the phone we can get a movie? Where would I find a "script" like that?

**humpagardengnome** · 03-08-2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by dmmarck

I don't think it has anything to do with SOPA/piracy paranoia (at least from Google's perspective), but more with the contracts/agreements with the studios who enable rentals. They probably won't nothing to do with circumvention, so as a term of the agreement had it so rooted users cannot rent movies so as to find a workaround for the DRM.

Piracy is the whole reason behind this from Googles perspective. Threats of Youtue lawsuits ring any bells?

**dmmarck** · 03-08-2012, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by humpagardengnome

Piracy is the whole reason behind this from Googles perspective. Threats of Youtue lawsuits ring any bells?

It might be an incidental thing, but to presume that the studios would let Google disseminate rental copies of movies with easy DRM get-arounds is a bit naive IMHO. You have to remember, with online/digital rentals, the studios are truly in control. Thank Netflix for that, for them realizing how big of a market exists for this type of thing.

There's literally no incentive for studios to "rent" to Google unless they're guaranteed the utmost security. Without that guarantee, I can't see them doing it. Thus, while Google may have some minor worries about piracy, knowing how these types of negotiations have played out leads me to believe that the brunt of this worry is directly from the studios, producers, etc. etc.

**MrSmith317** · 03-08-2012, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by buckifvr

So if superuser is not on the phone we can get a movie? Where would I find a "script" like that?

I wouldn't pay to rent a movie...ever lol. I'm assuming this would work. But you'd just need a script like:

mount -o remount,rw /system
mkdir /system/app/Backup
mv /system/app/Superuser.apk /system/app/Backup
busybox read -p "Press [Enter] key to move superuser back..."
mv /system/app/Backup/Superuser.apk /system/app/
busybox rmdir /system/app/Backup

**Dovahkiin** · 03-08-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Paradocks

I'm not rooted and I get everything done that I want to get done. People who root their phones constitute a small minority of users. Why should Google bend over backwards to appease a tiny percentage of users?

Sent from my Rezound using Tapatalk

I never suggested Google break its back for anyone.
And if you recall, Google touts the freedom of Android as one of its selling points. To suddenly treat the freedom of rooting/unlocking as a detriment to daily operations on the phone is, well, stupid.
The better solution is to create another form of copy protection instead of just blocking out a chunk of users entirely.
Oh, and your definition of getting "everything done" is not necessarily anyone else's definition of "everything done." Come talk to us when your unrooted Rezound can flash ROMs or use superuser-dependent apps.

**humpagardengnome** · 03-08-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by dmmarck

It might be an incidental thing, but to presume that the studios would let Google disseminate rental copies of movies with easy DRM get-arounds is a bit naive IMHO. You have to remember, with online/digital rentals, the studios are truly in control. Thank Netflix for that, for them realizing how big of a market exists for this type of thing.

There's literally no incentive for studios to "rent" to Google unless they're guaranteed the utmost security. Without that guarantee, I can't see them doing it. Thus, while Google may have some minor worries about piracy, knowing how these types of negotiations have played out leads me to believe that the brunt of this worry is directly from the studios, producers, etc. etc.

It's obviously an appeasement to objections from outside sources. My only concern is with Android being open to development it can lead to bigger problems down the line. It's nice to have safeguards in place to appease them but the more this happens and loopholes are put to use. It kind of villainizes those who root b/c we are forced to use them. I just don't want to see it become an issue at some point.

**dmmarck** · 03-08-2012, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by humpagardengnome

It's obviously an appeasement to objections from outside sources. My only concern is with Android being open to development it can lead to bigger problems down the line. It's nice to have safeguards in place to appease them but the more this happens and loopholes are put to use. It kind of villainizes those who root b/c we are forced to use them. I just don't want to see it become an issue at some point.

I absolutely agree with you there. The same type of argument/objections can be applied to the fact that rooted users can no longer use Wallet apparently. I mean really? Use a pin. Just use a freaking pin.

**MrSmith317** · 03-08-2012, 12:41 PM

Rooted users can't use wallet because if you're rooted and someone gets your phone they can steal your wallet info and possibly more. The rooting issue with DRM is more akin to stopping someone from walking into a movie theatre with a camera tripod. They may not have a camera but the tripod sure does make them look suspicious.

**buckifvr** · 03-08-2012, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by MrSmith317

I wouldn't pay to rent a movie...ever lol. I'm assuming this would work. But you'd just need a script like:

mount -o remount,rw /system
mkdir /system/app/Backup
mv /system/app/Superuser.apk /system/app/Backup
busybox read -p "Press [Enter] key to move superuser back..."
mv /system/app/Backup/Superuser.apk /system/app/
busybox rmdir /system/app/Backup

lol, odds are I won't rent a movie, but its nice to know that I can if for some strange reason I want to. Thanks

**dmmarck** · 03-08-2012, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by MrSmith317

Rooted users can't use wallet because if you're rooted and someone gets your phone they can steal your wallet info and possibly more. The rooting issue with DRM is more akin to stopping someone from walking into a movie theatre with a camera tripod. They may not have a camera but the tripod sure does make them look suspicious.

No doubt. There's a variety of ways to do it, but having a pin on there certainly stops a couple of them.

**tehsquishmeister** · 03-08-2012, 01:25 PM

Strange, I would think this would influence people to pirate movies.

I can't rent a movie on my phone? Oh, ok, no problem, I'll just go get it for free then. \o/

When will these companies realize DRM does nothing but inconvenience legitimate users.

**humpagardengnome** · 03-08-2012, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by tehsquishmeister

Strange, I would think this would influence people to pirate movies.

I can't rent a movie on my phone? Oh, ok, no problem, I'll just go get it for free then. \o/

When will these companies realize DRM does nothing but inconvenience legitimate users.

**diesteldorf** · 03-08-2012, 04:52 PM

Not to rub it in, but I can rent and play movies just fine and I am rooted with an Unlocked bootloader.
What normally happens when you try to rent....are you rejected?

Could it be that Google is turning a blind eye to those that have a GN with stock ICS?

I found a hacked version of Google Movies that worked when I had my rooted DX but it may not work since everything was updated to the "Google PLAY" brand. Would someone be willing to PM me their gmail address so I can send it? I haven't had a reson to use it since I am no longer using my DX, but it may work on the Rezound for those that want to try it.

**vxaxv17** · 03-08-2012, 06:09 PM

Id hardly blame google in this whole thing. Its almost surely the fault of the movie companies requiring this of google. Remember when netflix came out for android and it only supported like 3 phones because there was no real way to do DRM?

Sure, you can give the app 1 star all you want because of this but honestly i dont see it changing anything. If they changed the app to work on rooted devices there would likely end up being no movies to rent anymore.