30th January 2007, 11:09 pm
Is it me or does it seem to everyone that the entire content industry considers each and every one of its customers to be theives, just waiting to steal their content and distribute it across the world for free.
They continue to insist that the technology industry develop techniques to prevent people from copying their “premium content”. Technology companies must bow to the whims and wishes of the content providers, and give them the ultimate veto power over who may, or may not, view their content. In a way this is entirely their right but there is also a flaw in the philosophy being developed here.
The simple fact is that the content industry is treating their own customers as criminals, while not significantly affecting the actual criminals in any way. DRM, Digital Rights Management, Content Protection and all the other schemes that have been created to “protect” content are fundamentally flawed and cannot stand the test of time. It is inevitable that all forms of DRM can, and will, be cracked, copied, reproduced and distributed across the planet. I’m not enough of an expert to explain why this is true but I’m certain that Cory Doctorow can point you in the right direction.
So, the only people for whom DRM becomes an encumberance is the user who legally purchases their content. The customer who has no intention to steal, copy, fold, spindle or mutilate the content they are acquiring. The only people who will ever be angered by DRM will be the very same people who are actually supporting the content providers.
Does that really sound like a good idea?
29th January 2007, 03:27 am
Microsoft is really starting to piss me off with all of this Vista crap. Do I jump now and buy an XP Pro machine or do I wait and pick up a laptop with Vista preinstalled? My most recent decision was to wait because Vista would be a significant security upgrade to my computing experience (a view which only recently resolved itself) but the latest news coming down the pipe might change my mind. If Microsoft really goes ahead with the integration of AACS content protection deeply into the operating system, I’m inclined to tell them to where to stick it. It might even be enough to push me over to buying an Apple Powerbook. The real problem I have here is that Hollyweird has decided to put itself in the position of dictating what the technology of information presentation will be now and in the future.
It’s madness. It’s anti-consumerist. It’s eventually going to turn the entire world against them.
27th January 2007, 12:55 pm
27th January 2007, 01:00 am
After growing dissatisfaction with my previous web host I have migrated to a new one. Migrated, that is, with the exception of the actual content of my previous blog, and website really. It’s a loss to the literary world and it will take me some time to replace the photos I had uploaded to my previous site but what must be done must be done. I’ve moved to a new, hopefully significantly more reliable host, and look forward to years of better service, better website responsiveness and generally better content.
Oh, and the straw that really broke the camel’s back was when my previous host just stopped delivering my e-mail a week or two ago (I can’t really tell how long ago, that’s just how long I remember my spam having dropped off so suddenly) so if you’ve sent me an e-mail in the last month or so and I haven’t responded, send it again. Thanks.
7th January 2007, 03:26 am
3rd January 2007, 04:18 am
