DRM
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5 reasons to avoid iPhone 3GThe 5 real reasons to avoid iPhone 3G:
- iPhone completely blocks free software. Developers must pay a tax to Apple, who becomes the sole authority over what can and can't be on everyone's phones.
- iPhone endorses and supports Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.
- iPhone exposes your whereabouts and provides ways for others to track you without your knowledge.
- iPhone won't play patent- and DRM-free formats like Ogg Vorbis and Theora.
- iPhone is not the only option. There are better alternatives on the horizon that respect your freedom, don't spy on you, play free media formats, and let you use free software -- like the FreeRunner.
Part of a blog entry posted at fsf.org
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 21-Jul-2008 18:12
Rhapsody, Naxos go DRM-free.
We've made two additions to the guide to DRM free living -- Rhapsody and Naxos. Rhapsody is now offering MP3 downloads of lots of popular music, including all the major labels.
From their website —
Experience DRM-Freedom: Rhapsody MP3s aren't restricted by DRM. If acronyms aren't your thing, that means; when you buy a song or album from Rhapsody you can do whatever you want with it. Put it on your iPod or any other MP3 player, play it on as many computers as you want, or burn it to a CD as many times as you want.
Naxos has also moved to MP3 -- making audiobooks available in the format, with a huge selection of contemporary and classic titles, Naxos is a great place to get audiobooks.
What does this tell us? Well for one, Audible and iTunes are yet again, deceiving users with their DRM-laden materials. It also shows that more and more people are saying no to Digital Restrictions Management and that existing services are having to adapt to meet those demands.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 01-Jul-2008 23:55
Refusing Digital Monitoring Policies
Bruce Schneier has brought a new form of Digital Restrictions Management to our attention:
Microsoft is doing some of the most creative thinking along these lines, with something it's calling "Digital Manners Policies." According to its patent application, DMP-enabled devices would accept broadcast "orders" limiting capabilities. Cellphones could be remotely set to vibrate mode in restaurants and concert halls, and be turned off on airplanes and in hospitals. Cameras could be prohibited from taking pictures in locker rooms and museums, and recording equipment could be disabled in theaters. Professors finally could prevent students from texting one another during class.
It sounds innocent enough, until Schneier pulls back the curtain to show the real motivation behind these policies:
Don't be fooled by the scare stories of wireless devices on airplanes and in hospitals, or visions of a world where no one is yammering loudly on their cellphones in posh restaurants. This is really about media companies wanting to exert their control further over your electronics. They not only want to prevent you from surreptitiously recording movies and concerts, they want your new television to enforce good "manners" on your computer, and not allow it to record any programs. They want your iPod to politely refuse to copy music a computer other than your own. They want to enforce their legislated definition of manners: to control what you do and when you do it, and to charge you repeatedly for the privilege whenever possible.
Consumers are objecting en masse to the idea of their own computers and devices continuously and indiscriminately policing their activities via Digital Restrictions Management. So it's no surprise that Microsoft is hatching plans to soft-pedal these same restrictions under the term "manners." This is just old wine in new bottles -- Microsoft wants another way to control your activities.
Since they would be the patent holder, they can profit from selling this ability to monitor and control you to others. There's no doubt that their main customers would be the same media distribution companies who are struggling to cripple the technology that makes them irrelevant -- technology that enables many more artists and creators to share their works directly with the public.
Microsoft's patent abstract says:
Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with "no smoking" or "employees only" zones, "no swimming" or "no flash photography" areas, and scenarios for "please wash your hands" or "no talking out loud", devices may recognize and comply with analogous "device manners" policy.
It's common for companies pedaling digital restrictions to try to find parallels in the analog world, to make the restrictions seem familiar and correct. But these are flawed comparisons -- no machine covers your mouth with duct tape when you enter a "no smoking" zone just to make sure that you don't smoke. Nobody breaks your fingers to make sure that you don't use the flash on your camera in a museum.
Digital restrictions require you to hand over your privacy and freedom in advance. They are inherently unsafe because people other than the intended parties can access these mechanisms for monitoring and restricting you. They are inherently untrustworthy because you aren't legally allowed to know what's going on behind the scenes on the device in your pocket, including the contents of its continuous conversation with whichever corporation it's reporting to. The purpose of the restrictions might sound benign but their mechanism is unacceptable -- and what these companies are actually after is acceptance of the mechanism, so that they can then put it to other uses.
Digital Restrictions Management and "Digital Manners Policies" both use the fear that some people might not do the right thing to justify treating everyone like a criminal and taking away our freedom. We shouldn't accept this justification to cripple what are otherwise incredibly useful and powerful tools for innovation and creativity. "Digital Manners Policies" are really "Digital Monitoring Policies," and we should refuse them.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 26-Jun-2008 19:28
Fight the Canadian DMCA!
On Wednesday, Industry Minister Jim Prentice introduced a bill that BoingBoing's Cory Doctorow described as making it "flatly illegal to break any kind of digital lock, or to violate terms in one of those absurd end-user license agreements that make you promise to agree to let the record industry kick your teeth in and drink all your beer, just for the dubious privilege of paying for a song at iTunes or watching a video on Viacom's website.".
Doctorow also points out that "[t]his amounts to private law: under Prentice's plan, Parliament would get out of the business of making copyright law, simply enforcing whatever copyright law the entertainment industry itself dreamed up". Michael Geist, law professor at the University of Ottawa states, the education provisions "[t]urn librarians into locksmiths" by requiring that they expire their digital materials after no more than five days.
This is an extremely troubling case, as all signs point to this being far worse than the US's Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Let's not forget that Adobe under the DMCA had a Russian programmer, Dmitry Sklyarov, arrested and imprisoned. His "crime"? Distributing a product designed to remove locks from ebooks so that they could be fully used like regular books.
Especially given that consumers are rejecting DRMed media and moving toward services like eMusic, Amazon MP3, Magnatune and Jamendo, this would be a terrible law to pass. Geist notes that "the DMCA provisions are worse than the U.S. and the consumer exceptions riddled with limitations" -- the provisions include a potential $20,000 per infringement damage award that could see Canadian citizens threatened with legal troubles for uploading a snippet of a song to any video-sharing site.
Canada's excuse is that it needs the DMCA in order to comply with the 1996 WIPO Copyright Treaty. But this is no reason at all -- We need to make it clear that an unjust treaty cannot justify a further unjust law!
What can be done? Take action!
We simply cannot let this pass.
- No matter where you live in the world, if you are a copyright holder on any kind of work -- song, film, article, computer program -- please email the officials below to let them know that you do not want this law and that the people who have been demanding it do not speak for you.
- If you are Canadian, please write to your MP to protest the fast-tracking of this bill.
The Canadian government needs to hear that this law is Defective by Design!
- Write to your MP, and email the Industry Minister, the Canadian Heritage Minister, and the Prime Minister. If you are looking for a sample letter, visit Copyright for Canadians.
- If you send an email, be sure to print it out and drop a copy in the mail (no stamp is needed -- c/o House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A0A6).
- Don't stop with email. Go visit. In his latest post, Doctorow suggests that every Canadian "Take 30 minutes from your summer, to meet directly with your MP". From late June through much of the summer, your MP will be back in your local community attending local events and making themselves available to meet with constituents. Give them a call and ask for a meeting. Every MP in the country should return to Ottawa in the fall having heard from their constituents on this issue.
UPDATE: Canadian Colalition for Electronic Rights have a simple form for Canadian citizens to easily email Prentice and others
Please Digg this story
Photo credit: Heidi Wholeness at Flickr
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 17-Jun-2008 20:22
Zuneral commemorates the death of DRM
Take action: Digg the invitation, attend the Zuneral.
Harvard Free Culture has entombed an iPod and a Zune in cement in preparation for a Zuneral, to commemorate the death of Digital Restrictions Management.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 23-May-2008 23:34
Boycott Windows Media Center
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Take action:
- Digg the BadVista.org blog post.
- Boycott Windows Media Center!
Microsoft is using DRM to prevent users from saving certain television shows to their hard drive. Saving such streams is a normal feature that comes with Windows Media Center, but they have locked you out of
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 20-May-2008 23:41
Welcoming Boston's new Apple Store
Last night the DRM Elimination Crew attended the grand opening of Apple's new store in Boston -- now its largest US store.
The clear glass front of the store stands in stark contrast to Apple's unethical business practices, including using opaque Digital Restrictions Management software to take rights away from its customers.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 16-May-2008 21:51
Libraries: Eliminate DRM!
- Digg this.
- Sign the open-letter
- Customize your own letter from our template.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 09-May-2008 00:05
MSN Music to shut down, leaving DRM customers in the lurch
Microsoft is ceasing support for its MSN Music service. After August 31, 2008, people who have bought music from the service will no longer be able to move that music to different computers, or even change the operating system on their current computers.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 23-Apr-2008 22:05
Help improve our Guide to DRM-free living
Over the past eighteen months, the music industry has almost universally turned its back on Digital Restrictions Management. Major distributors like Amazon.com are marketing their music as "DRM-free MP3 music downloads." and companies like emusic.com are continuing to
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 08-Apr-2008 23:14
CBC to offer popular TV program as a DRM-free download
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has some excellent news for DRM-free living.
The CBC will be the first major North American broadcaster to release one of its programs without Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). On top of that, they will be using BitTorrent to distribute the program, which is "Canada's Next Great Prime Minister".
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 20-Mar-2008 18:05
U.S. Patent law is defective by design
Take action:
- Digg the Arstechnica story.
- Visit the ESP site
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 28-Feb-2008 19:41
Library Action: Good news on a cold day
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 12-Feb-2008 18:28
Libraries: Kick DRM out!
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 05-Feb-2008 22:10
Apple says you can't read data on your own computer
It's yet another example of what we just talked about -- DRM doesn't just restrict copying of music files, it infects your entire system and turns it against you. Apple is explicitly preventing DTrace from examining or recording data for processes which don't "permit" tracing -- processes like, say iTunes.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 25-Jan-2008 17:15
Apple DRM obstructs legal creativity
People are seeing Digital Restrictions Management for what it is this week, thanks to Apple's "Fairplay" DRM scheme.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 25-Jan-2008 01:02
Don't let the EU sanction DRM
Action alert: Don't let the EU sanction DRM
- Take action: Sign the Open Letter demanding that
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 05-Jan-2008 00:12
Another nasty DRM surprise from NetflixNetflix DRM won't stream to HDD
When you buy into DRM technology, you put control over your computer in someone else's hands. This guarantees that unpredictable and unpleasant things will happen. Those with the DRM keys can decide that you no longer have the right to access the media you bought unless you agree to some new terms or buy some new tech, like Major League Baseball and Google Video have both done recently.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 03-Jan-2008 23:56
Don't let DRM get between you and a good book
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 20-Dec-2007 16:57
Together we are Fighting DRM
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 14-Dec-2007 17:36
The Kindle Swindle
Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com
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Tag the Kindle and Kindle ebooks on Amazon.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 12-Dec-2007 16:36
Taking the battle to the RIAA
The Free Software Foundation's DefectiveByDesign campaign has set-up a fund to pay for expert witnesses in key RIAA lawsuits brought against US citizens.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 11-Dec-2007 06:43
Tell Netflix: No DRM
Take action now. Tell Netflix: No More DRM. Digg this story!
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 16-Oct-2007 17:52
For Sale: Unbroken CarImagine a used car salesman putting up big signs advertising "unbroken cars." That's exactly what Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Microsoft are doing. Their marketing campaigns are based on the fact that their music is DRM-free. Wow, thanks, you've caught up to the gramophone. Not only are you going to sell me the music I'm paying for, but you aren't even going to wrap it up in technology that is defective by design.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 04-Oct-2007 23:58
Warner Waking Up?
It's taking a while, but maybe Warner Music is finally starting to get the hint. They didn't get it after Steve Jobs showed initial signs of comprehension, so we decided back in April that someone needed to initiate a follow-up conversation. We asked a few thousand of our friends to call their chief, Edgar Bronfman Jr., first thing in the morning.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 21-Sep-2007 22:28
DRM - Trash Vista, Not Your Computer
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 29-Aug-2007 16:48
News reports and response from the BBC's Ashley Highfield
Chris Williams from the Regsiter reports, "Brown contrasted today's BBC's acceptance of Windows Media DRM for iPlayer with the organisation which in 2003 battled for and won the right to broadcast its channels over satellite without encryption. The Free Sofware Foundation is against all DRM.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 15-Aug-2007 12:40
BBC iPlayer protest reportRead the Press Reports and response from the BBC
We have had beautiful weather in London since I arrived in the UK on August 4. But today with the protest about to kick off it's tipping down. I'm in my hired car and "luckily" I get a puncture right outside BBC television center on Wood Lane. With no parking in the area, this gives me 90 minutes for the road side rescue to come and change my tire without getting towed. With hazmat suits, large signs and flyers to drop off, this makes life much easier.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 15-Aug-2007 10:08
BBC's Values Corrupted by Microsoft. Protests in London and Manchester on Tuesday, August 14
Sign up Now!
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 27-Jul-2007 18:33
The harm being caused by DRM, and those with their heads In the sand
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 19-Jul-2007 09:03
RIAA Loses Big in Captiol v. Foster, Forced to Pay Attorney FeesIt's been a while since we have talked about RIAA's legal strategy of suing folks for alleged infringement, but this week brough some good news. Ray Beckerman reports on his block hat the Judge in Capitol v. Foster has awarded the defendant legal fees to the tune of $68 thousand dollars after tossing out the RIAA's case with prejudice, and subsequent appeal.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 19-Jul-2007 08:52
Zune DRM CrackedWired and others are carrying the story that Microsoft's ZUNE DRM has been cracked. Proving again, that just about any DRM scheme will be cracked sooner or later.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 19-Jul-2007 08:43
Awesome Anti-DRM T-shirtsTorrentFreak has announced the winners of their anti-DRM t-shirt contest. You can order shirts printed with the designs, or you can download the source files and print your own. The winners are strikingly effective designs and are a great way to get people thinking about DRM—I just ordered #3 for myself. Kudos to all 50 of the entering artists for taking the time to apply their skills to help communicate this important message, and congratulations to the winners!
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 13-Jul-2007 22:41
Behind-The-Scenes Look at How DRM Becomes Law from Cory DoctorowThis afternoon Information Week published a great article by Cory Doctorow about how big corporations and shadowy associations and working groups collude to develop DRM schemes and the laws that mandate them.
The piece is very long, and very good. Everyone who is interested in this sort of thing should give it a read and then tell your friends and family about it.
Here is a choice excerpt from the beginning:
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 12-Jul-2007 07:12
HMV joining online DRM Free MP3 SellersHMV seems like the latest big name to join the DRM Free MP3 sales market. Looks like they plan to undercut iTMS in an attempt to increase sales.
HMV and other bricks and mortar music stores haven't been doing so well of late as sales of physical CDs have been dropping.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 03-Jul-2007 21:48
Apple iPhone and DRMThe iPhone hype hides a basic problem with the product ? Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) inside the iPhone means that it wont be under your control. Apple has built this ?smart? phone to dumb you down. They also want you to switch your cell phone service to AT&T ? who collaborated with the National Security Agency (NSA) in its massive, illegal program to wiretap and data mine Americans' communications.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 29-Jun-2007 16:59
FSF Releases GPLv3, Strikes Blow Against Tivoization (like the iPhone)Today the FSF announces the release of the GPLv3. The announcement coincidentally is on the same day as Apple's much awaited iPhone release.
As the GPLv3 press release states:
?Tivoization? is a term coined by the FSF to describe devices that are built with free software, but that use technical measures to prevent the user from making modifications to the software?a fundamental freedom for free software users?and an attack on free software that the GPLv3 will put a stop to.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 29-Jun-2007 16:50
Early Results Are In: DRM Free Music Sells!ArsTechnica reports thatEMI's DRM Free tracks on iTMS Plus are selling VERY well with double and triple digit percentage increases. As ArsTechnica points out, some of the increase could be a result of users looking to upgrade already purchased tracks, but that still means that users are willing to pay the extra 30 cents to loose the DRM.
EMI execs are expressing confidence that the trend will continue, and other labels are considering joining them, probably when more data has come in.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 21-Jun-2007 05:45
The most popular free software license - the GNU GPL - will combat DRMLast week the Free Software Foundation announced that version 3 of the GNU GPL (GPLv3), will be released on June 29th.
On this date many thousands of free software projects will start to switch to this license. And GPLv3 is squarely aimed at defeating DRM.
Digg the Story!
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 11-Jun-2007 17:57
Free The BBC Site launchedBinary Freedom just launched FreeTheBBC.info with an open letter to the BBC regarding their decision to use proprietary formats and DRM despite overwhelming public comment early this year in support of open formats and content free of DRM.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 10-Jun-2007 02:08
AnywhereCD and Warner SettleA few months back, AnywhereCD launched offering a new service, buy a physicals cd AND get the digital download immediately. Anywhere made deals with numerous record companies, including Warner. Shortly after launch, Warner cried foul. The lawsuits started flying.
This week brings news of a settlement. Under the terms, you can get your warner CDs and MP3 from AnywhereCD until September.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 08-Jun-2007 16:24
Jeremy Allison on DRM not ever workingJust read a good piece by Jeremy Allison over on ZDNET. Why DRM won't ever work is a good explanation of the fundamental flaws with the concept and implementation of DRM. It is a great piece to share with folks who don't understand DRM.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 07-Jun-2007 22:56
DRM Free Clasical Music DownloadsThe Christian Science Monitor has a good article about classical music without DRM.
The article makes the point that digital sales of classical music are pretty high and that classical music fans are willing to spend money on digital music sales for larger files.
Industry figures are hopeful that dropping copy protection ? thus allowing for big, clear-sounding and noncompressed audio files ? will generate even stronger interest in classical downloads.
and
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 07-Jun-2007 22:44
TIME on DRMTime Magazine ran an article last week about DRM. It gets alot right, and speaks in non geek terms:
Off the record, most executives--on the technology side at least--will tell you that DRM is a dinosaur that's waiting for the asteroid to hit. It's just a matter of when the music industry will stop assuming its customers are all criminals.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 29-May-2007 19:52
DRM Elimination Crew Hits The StreetsOn Friday, DefectiveByDesign members hit the streets to tell the public about Disney, DRM and the IPPA.
One crew in Huntington on Long Island (in NY) reported that the crowd was very receptive and interested in the information and that they all had a good time spreading the message the DRM defective, and the Disney and other Big Media companies are trying to buy legislation that will only further degrade our rights.
Source : defectivebydesign.org | 28-May-2007 07:41