| Microsoft Research DRM talk Cory Doctorow This is a beautiful piece of work. It's the transcript of a talk Cory Doctorow from the EFF gave to Microsoft Research about the perils of Digital Rights Management and why MS should keep DRM out of products like Media Player. The argument comes down to 5 points. 1. That DRM systems don't work 2. That DRM systems are bad for society 3. That DRM systems are bad for business 4. That DRM systems are bad for artists 5. That DRM is a bad business-move for MSFT Particularly interesting is that last one and uses the example of Sony. During the early days of video recorder's Sony fought back against the entertainment industry and won a judgement that recording programs and tapes was fair use and the manufacturer of the device could not be held responsible for that use. That judgement was instrumental in creating the huge video industry we know today. This time around Sony bought a major entertainment corporation and ever since has been wasting time with a succession of hardware devices that are crippled with DRM. The end result is that they have effectively lost a whole series of markets beginning with the personal music player. Microsoft is one of the few companies with a media player that is big enough, arrogant enough, independent enough and with enough spare cash to simply stand up to the entertainment industry and stick two fingers in the air. Unlike Apple or Sony, MS don't need an iPod or iTunes to survive. Anyway, Cory's piece is quite long and detailed but if you're remotely interested in the future of music, video, consumer rights and DRM, you must read it. [from: JB Ecademy] |
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