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| reply to G_Poobah
Re: So what's the issue?
said by "G_Poobah":
This is no different than selling a car that was unable to go faster than the speed limit, ever.
You are aware, that most cars sold today, have not only built-in "speed limiters" in their computer (meaning, won't go above 'X' speed - not without "chipping" the computer), but also, they include "black box" functionality, in order to log your driving habits. No doubt, that when you go in for your yearly "safety" inspection, they will download your entire driving history for that year into their computer. If that information includes physical location information, that could be superimposed on a map - well, better hope that your travels don't look "suspicious" to anyone. Oh yeah, some states ARE now proposing or implementing RFID transponders into inspection stickers as well. I also know that at least CA is doing likewise with a "remote kill switch" for cars - the cops would just have to point a device at your car, hit a button, and your car drifts to a halt, right then and there. So much for a Constitutionally-affirmed "right to travel".
That all being said - I don't think that *all* "DRM" is bad - DRM enables control. The question is, WHO is given that control. If the user is given complete control over their own machines, and allowed to control their own media works, then I don't have a huge problem with that - it could actually spur the development of a reliable micro-payment scheme for smaller content distributers. (Meaning you and me - imagine getting paid a cent every time someone read one of your posts!)
But if only the bigger corporations / gov't agencies, are given "control" over a user's machine, what it creates, what it is allowed to view - then that is essentially technological *slavery*, and also a widespread platform for post-facto censorship efforts.
In short - it seems directly analogous to the concept of the ownership and control over private property - if the "end-user" is allowed to own and control, then no problem. But if only the "plantation owner" is allowed to control it, then that is a real problem. And that seems to be where things are headed, unfortunately. |
