DRM self-regulation by media companies is failing consumers
UK consumer group calls for DRM legislation
/v3-uk/news/1964536/uk-consumer-calls-drm-legislation
17 Jan 2006, Iain Thomson , V3
The National Consumer Council (NCC) has told MPs that legislation is needed to rein in digital rights management (DRM) technology.
In a submission (PDF) to the All Party Internet Group inquiry into DRM the NCC said that self-regulation by media companies is failing consumers, and that the government needs to clarify the position.
The NCC has proposed a 15-point checklist against which any DRM technology should be measured if it is to succeed. This includes setting up a non-affiliated body to devise DRM standards, commercial sanctions for non-compliance and a clear and fair complaints procedure.
"The development of DRM so far suggests that leaving it to industry self-regulation will compromise and limit the legitimate rights of consumers," said the organisation.
"A more balanced legislative framework is needed which provides explicit recognition of consumer rights, and ensures that anti-circumvention protection is only provided to DRM systems which meet the required standards."
The NCC highlighted the case of the Sony BMG scandal in which DRM technology opened a security hole that left consumers' PCs open to attack. It also questioned why this technology was being used, since it has little effect on organised crime.
"Given the resources available to many criminal gangs, the ability of DRM to halt these activities is minimal," the submission stated.
"However, the use of DRM can and is constraining legitimate consumer use of products and consumer rights under consumer protection and data protection law. "
The NCC added that current DRM technology is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from the spyware used by criminal gangs, and that consumers' rights will be harmed unless the government takes action.
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Do you agree?
SIMPLE SOLUTION
SLIGHTLY OFF SUBJECT BUT YOU COLD REDUCE MEDIA PIRACY OVER NIGHT BY AT LEAST 50% IF THE HUGE GLOBAL MULTINATIONAL PRODUCERS OF THE MEDIA WERE TO CUT THE PRICE OF CD/DVD MEDIA TO A LOW ENOUGH LEVEL IT WOULD NO LONGER BE FINANCIALLY VIABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE TO BOTHER COPYING/SHARING THE MUSIC FILMS IN THE FIRST PLACE..
IF A DVD FILM COST £5.00 VERY FEW PEOPLE WOULD BOTHER.THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE LIKES OF SONY AND SO ON WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A HIT IN THERE "PROFITS"
I BET THEY COULD IF THEY WANTED TO!
Posted by MR C TAYLOR, 17 Jan 2006
DRM
The answer to DRM which is being forced upon us is very simple. STOP downloading music. The record companies will soon come to their senses and start to treat their customs with some respect.
Posted by I.R. Garnham, 18 Jan 2006
Too late
The NCC should have done what they are now doing 2-3 years ago when the multinationals started playing their games to restrict consumer rights.
Turning the clock back is always very difficult, let's hope the NCC achieves some success.
Posted by Ed Wilcox, 18 Jan 2006
Levys and law
In the days when we were taping the weekly chart on our cassette recorders, the music industry came up with its cassette and crossbones logo with the message. "Home taping is killing music, and its illegal. that was more than 30 years ago and the music industry is still going strong.
As technology has improved the music publishers, record labels etc made a form of windfall profit as the public migrated from 78's to 45's, (younger readers ask your parents);and then to tape cassettes and cd recordings.
Even then some of those whom had the record would make a home recording on cassette, for portable or car player use. This resulted in a levy, or tax being placed on the sale of blank cassettes to cover the lost royalties. I believe a similar scheme applies to blank cd's and possibily DVD's
This windfall profit is essentially lost when the media is loaded on to a pc which can adapt to transfer the media to new recording methods, be it sd card, mpe player or cd or other disc based system. it is this which I believe troubles the music industry so greatly.
I object to being limited on the amount of copies I can use for media I have paid for particularly when family members when using that copy or even shop bought media render it unusable through accident or carelessness. Particularly when I have paid a tax to allow for the copyright to be covered, not to mention the cost savings to the industry in production, packaging and distribution.
Posted by Tom Spooner, 17 Jan 2006
DRM.. No to self regulation.
DRM legislation was hurried through the UK and eu, to appease the large media corporations. Now we see the likes of sonybmg placing damaging code on cd's in order to destroy/damage their clients pc's.
From the outset consumer pressure groups warned against the legislation of drm, now we have proof of what these media companies are capable of. MP's must introduce new legislation to protect the consumer and curb the power of these despicable media companies.
Posted by D.Croucher, 17 Jan 2006