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Why Vista's DRM Is Bad For You and other jewels by Bruce Schneier
f0dder:
I remember there was a thread about SuperBoyAC (iirc) not being being able to playback a DRM-protected movie he bought. Multiple DRM vendors have taken down DRM license servers in the past, leaving consumers with unplayable media files. DRM-protected files only work on media players that support DRM, and not all of them do. There used to be a lot of trouble finding a working mix of high-definition playback devices and HDTVs that would actually work, causing many people to curse HDCP (dunno if the issue is largely resolved now, though).
And at the same time, every single content-protection mechanism either has been broken or will be broken. Only the legitimate customers are hurt by this insane crippling shit, whereas the pirates just laugh and enjoy hassle-free media, games and programs.
Deozaan:
I'm not saying I'm in favor of DRM, which as f0dder said is or will be broken. What I'm talking about is that the article (from nearly two years ago) says Vista will cripple your ability to view media and recommends nobody upgrades to Vista ever. Yet in the past two years, where is the evidence that this is happening?
I've rented a movie from Netflix and tried to watch it on my computer (Windows XP) and it wouldn't play due to DRM. But that wasn't the fault of Microsoft/Windows. That was the fault of Sony for putting DRM on the DVD.
I am opposed to them trying to force us to buy certain hardware, but in the two years following that "scaremongering" article, I haven't heard/seen any evidence that Vista is doing that.
Ehtyar: What control does Hollywood have over my computer system? I genuinely want to know what you mean by that.
Darwin:
What Deozaan said... I've yet to encounter anything that has been disabled by Vista's built in DRM. Actually, the only issues that I've ever had with DRM have been with music files purchased from Puretracks years ago - I've upgraded hardward twice since then and somewhere along the way WMP's useless licencing backup system has been removed altogether. Thus, no chance of my ever playing THOSE files again ;) Thank goodness for the ability to burn to disc and, more latterly, programs like Netburner and muvAudio. For DVDs there's always DVDFab or AnyDVD, but I don't tend to buy DVD's so am not so concerned.
40hz:
It would be nice if the DRM licenses were not so one-sided. If you read them, they basically boil down to the following:
Plain Language DRM Terms:
1. We own everything, including the content you think you just purchased.
2. This is all about our granting our granting you permissions, not rights. We do not acknowledge that you have any rights in the matter.
3. You have purchased nothing more than a vaguely defined 'temporary permit' to use this content in such ways, and under such terms, as we alone shall dictate.
4. We may change any of our terms at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all.
5. We are not required to inform you of any changes we make to this agreement.
6. You are still bound to our most current terms of use regardless of whether or not you are aware that we have changed anything.
7. You agree that we may modify, or require you to accept changes to your system in any we we deem necessary to protect our interests.
8. You agree not to hold us liable for anything bad that happens to you as a result of anything we do - even if we knew about it in advance.
9. You agree to allow us to hold you fully responsible for anything bad that we feel has happened to us as a result of anything you do - even if it was unintentional.
10. You agree that we shouldn't be required to show you actually did something wrong before we initiate legal actions, or seek a judgment against you.
11. You agree you won't try to figure out how our software works, even if you need such knowledge to repair any problems we caused on your system.
12. You agree not to bad-mouth us to anybody, no matter what.
13. You agree never to sue us.
14. You DO agree, however, that we can still sue you.
15. It is an established fact that every sentient entity in this, and in every other, universe. intended to buy the product governed by these terms. Therefor, whoever accepts these terms also agrees to have UNLIMITED financial liability in the event of a lawsuit. You agree that your innocent enjoyment of the Blackout album may initiate a chain of events that could cost us "Beel-yons and Beel-yons" as Carl Sagan would have said. If that happens, we expect you to pay us that amount - even if Brittany's latest attempt at a comeback turns out to be a total bust, as expected.
16. You agree that our license terms trump all international conventions, laws, and legal precedents. The same rule applies to the laws found in the place where you live. If we decide to come after you for something, you agree to waive all the legal rights you have by way of citizenship or residency in any country, state, or locality. Furthermore, we get to pick the court of jurisdiction. (And you may rest assured we will find a judge that is sympathetic to our position - even if we have to go all the way to Marshall Texas to do it!)
17. These terms are not negotiable
18. If you don't agree to everything we say (now or in the future), your only recourse is to return our product to the place you bought it and try to get a refund.
19. Since they probably won't take it back because you opened it (otherwise how would you know you didn't agree with our terms) you can request a refund directly from us. However, we reserve the right to institute a set of conditions on returns that makes it virtually impossible for you to do so.
20. People that violate this agreement are hurting everybody. DRM is for your protection. Please help us by reporting any violations you may encounter on the part of others.
--- End quote ---
Sorry. I've been a musician for years, and much as I'd prefer people would buy my music, I still can't swallow what the "intellectual property" legal crowd is doing. People swipe stuff all the time. I've had my own stuff swiped as well. But even so, I can't see the benefit of treating everybody as either a criminal, or a potential criminal. It doesn't seem to be a workable or fair way to address the so-called problem.
Music is music. That's never been the problem. Trying to monetize it has been. And attempting to wring every last possible penny out of every single note is not only foolish, it's also impossible.
----------------------
epaalx - I'm curious. You seem to accept, as read, the whole industry position on DRM. Are you directly involved with any of this (i.e are you an attorney, musician, industry employee, etc.), or are you just sold on the argument the industry is making? :)
Ehtyar:
Ehtyar: I own my physical disc, I own the case it came in. I do not own the movie. The movie is licensed out, as has always been the case. The company places measures on the disc to ensure I do not attmept to rip and distribute it. In the society where a good majority of teenagers who are internet saavy feel that all media should be free, what is the industry to do? With the internet age comes a new method of pirating materials in a manner far easier than ever before. Now, I am not saying I do not pirate, but I have calmed down almost 300 fold compared to my earlier days because now, I can afford to purchase what I want. The companies have every right to protect THEIR property which is being licensed to us for private home viewing, not distribution by means other than what they wish.
Microsoft hasn't gone to the same extent? What is product activation, WGA, and the other methods microsoft is employing to protect it's products? It started with Windows 3.11 where you had to have a code to install it (Or was it Windows NT 4), granted you could use the famous ALL 1 code, but still they attempted to protect their software by requiring a key to install. And now they have inspired many major software companies to do the same.
-Josh (December 08, 2008, 05:36 AM)
--- End quote ---
You also own your PC, which now thanks to MS and their OEMs, the movie studios control should you play one of their movies. How is everyone missing this part?
Microsoft's product activation applies only to their software, not to any third parties, as the DRM does exclusively.
I remember there was a thread about SuperBoyAC (iirc) not being being able to playback a DRM-protected movie he bought. Multiple DRM vendors have taken down DRM license servers in the past, leaving consumers with unplayable media files. DRM-protected files only work on media players that support DRM, and not all of them do. There used to be a lot of trouble finding a working mix of high-definition playback devices and HDTVs that would actually work, causing many people to curse HDCP (dunno if the issue is largely resolved now, though).
And at the same time, every single content-protection mechanism either has been broken or will be broken. Only the legitimate customers are hurt by this insane crippling shit, whereas the pirates just laugh and enjoy hassle-free media, games and programs.
-f0dder (December 08, 2008, 06:38 AM)
--- End quote ---
Well said as usual f0d man.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=j-uulRB1OmY
Ehtyar.
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