Free Thoughts On The DRM Debacles

Excellent read at Groklaw, re: the DRM fiascos:

DRM is not your friend. Remember: they can't pull this off without us.

The article focuses on the UK AOP (UK Association of Online Publishers) but has information relevant to all interested humans who don't want to be spoon fed the gruel of someone else's choice when the bell rings.

Here's the latest. They are thinking that DRM would be a benefit to consumers, because we can buy "the right to read a book just once or pay a fraction of a penny every time" we play a song. Excuse me. When I buy a book in paper form, I already get to read it more than once. On what legal basis are publishers now proposing to sell me a book I can't reread? Copyright law limits copies. But limiting reading? This is an opportunity for me how?

Ah yes, benefiting consumers has always been their highest priority. Right.

I'm probably missing something.

Well, he's not alone. I'm apparently missing the whole enchilada. All I can manage is an eloquent "Huh?? Say WHAT??"

Consumers are to be fleeced at all costs. To the max. Now they've figured out a way to make us pay to browse. It's like the movie moguls. 99 cents isn't enough for a song now, by the way, according to reports that Hollywood is trying to sit on Apple to make them charge more. More and more for something that costs essentially nothing to duplicate forever.
Apple advertizes their iPod as holding 15,000 songs, and at .99 a song, that is $14,850 from my pocket alone to fill my iPod. That isn't enough?

Or $395,000.10 for a holographic disc. No, apparently it is *never* enough.