> All,
> You know, something that I have been curious about recently, that
> isn't necessarily Linux-related and is probably off-tpoic, is how to
> live a more DRM free life. As I look around (work, home, etc) I see
> people making decisions that they may not necessarily understand. As
> an example, I am still astounding by people who think they like iTunes
> for media management. I think it is about the worst tool I have ever
> used for managing my collection.
> But I digress. I watch my kids, who have iPods, and want to use
> Macs; and I wonder what kind of monsters I have created. I recognize
> why DRM is not in anyone's best interest (except may RIAA / MPAA), but
> as far as educating someone on how to divest themselves of the
> shackles of DRM I find myself woefully lacking.
> Does anyone have anything interesting?
Kids like the technology, but they also frequently want to share their
media. Talk to them about what they are legally allowed to do with their
media, and about the alternatives and they will more than likely want
the more free option.
Many kids illegally share music. Sharing music isn't implicitly illegal,
as if it is a Creative Commons license it is totally legal. (As it is
also legal to share MP3s from your personal band.) DRM crypled devices
make no distinction about whether it is legal to share particular music.
It can be an MP3 of yourself reading notes to study for class, and your
media player won't allow you to share it with your classmates.
On a fundamental level, DRM is a device used by bullies to prevent users
from legally using products they legitimately purchased. Kids understand
bullies, even if they've never encountered one outside of movies.
Did you know that some music CD DRM has physically damaged hardware?
It violated the spec in ways the CD-ROM drives couldn't handle and it
resulted in permanent damage.
With DVD region encodings if you move to Europe you can't just order a
US movie from the internet and watch it. In fact, you can't even just
bring your favorite movie with you from home and share it with your
European friends. You speak English, your friends speak English, you
want to watch it in English, but it won't work. You need to by the
European version, and if they never release it in Europe, you just can't
watch it. Explain this to a kid, and they'll tell you it doesn't seem
fair.
Proprietary formats are frequently used to bully folks. Tell a kid that
if free software FOO supports format BAR the developers could be sued
and it is likely the software will disappear forever. They'll likely
think when someone makes something on their own it is only fair that the
person can give it away for free if they want.
Shoot, tell a kid that they can't get a newer (used) computer because
whenever old computers go to Goodwill they have to throw away the CPU
as if they don't Microsoft will sue them and they'll start to think
Microsoft is a meanie. (It is also why pawn shops can only accept
computers complete with the original installation media.)
When the iPod connects to Linux, (some models have worked), it isn't
bound to a single machine like it is in Windows. You can plug someone
else's iPod to your computer and share music directly.
Something like Rockbox <http://www.rockbox.org/> allows a person to
share their media with any computer they come across.
Cheers,
Steven Black
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