According to Reuters, Wal-Mart is selling DVD players with built in ClearPlay filtering technology, despite being aware of pending litigation against the software behind the DVD players.

Long story short, ClearPlay watches films, flags scenes which it feels are offensive in some way, and creates a list of automated fast-forwards or skips. End users of the technology can pick and choose what types of scenes (violent, profane, etc.) are filtered out of a movie.

The problem is that the filmmaker, or studio, has no say in the process and their copyright protected films are effectively being altered for profit by a third party. A bunch of Hollywood type have already filed suit against the software but apparently that's not enough to discourage the good folks at Thomson Inc. (makers of the new DVD players) and Wal-Mart from backing the technology.

Now I'd be worried about contributory infringement if I were Wal-Mart, not to mention the perception of being unfriendly to artists, but I'm not the multi-national mega corp., so what do I know.