With all the digital rights management floating about in the ether these days, and
fiascos like Microsoft's WGA, I found myself standing beside myself, saying "Self, how much DRM (Digital Rights Management) is enough?" Self turned to me and said, "I don't know, but whatever it is, it is enough." While I couldn't tell if this was more poignant or confusing, I think my self is right. Good grief! Why must companies ruin everything good they have going by making their customers angry (for no reason)? I agree that some DRM is needed (or something like it) to protect the interests of artists, but why make the customers suffer just to move music to places they can easily hear it? Microsoft's WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) is another way that Microsoft is trying to protect their assets. Someone need to come up with a secure yet fluid way to transfer and play music easily, without stomping on the customer's rights either. So far, I really don't see any good solutions to the DRM problem. Regardless, this WGA nonsense is ridiculous. How much DRM should we put up with, and how much do we need?
Tags: commercial, DigitalRightsManagement, DRM, fair-use, Microsoft, music, sharing, WindowsGenuineAdvantage
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Comments
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Subscribe to commentsPeterJul 12th 2006 9:08AM
Customers need to speak with their wallets. If you don't like products with DRM, don't buy them. Yes, you might have to do without your favorite band's latest disc, but that's just the way it is.
If sales dropped because the DRM was too restrictive, you can be sure they would change it. If you just complain, but continue to purchase, what incentive to they have to listen to you?
KatJul 12th 2006 11:13AM
Expanding on Peter's comment, once you do without your favorite band's latest album because of the DRM, contact them (letter, phone call, e-mail) and *tell* them why you didn't purchase, and contact the label as well.
Ryan CarterJul 12th 2006 1:24PM
I agree we need to send a message, but so far no one has come up with a good solution technologically speaking to allow fair-use rights yet prevent piracy. It is difficult for less-savvy users to figure out all the hoops they have to jump through just to get a song on a player and use it, without so much interference from DRM. Any suggestions on what companies can do to help with this?