But since the lights went out I’ve never been the same

[venta]

Yesterday I had one of those moments where I realise I have a very specific opinion on something - but no real justification for it, and no clear idea where I got it from.

So, you, my dear self-selecting sample of guinea pigs, have the opportunity to prove me right. Or wrong. But I'm not going to tell you which is which. I'd hate to bias my otherwise-scientific survey.

I'm asking here about portable mp3 players (or mp3-a-likes). If you use your computer to play mp3s at you at home, or have some form of mp3 monster in the car, that's not what I meant.

[Poll #442057]

Comments

[diffrentcolours]

I'm not sure that your definition of DRM as

a rights description language coupled with semantics for media software to enforce the restrictions expressed using the language, and some kind of encryption to obfuscate the content so that non-compliant software has to work its ass off to get a look-in

is compatible with

a rights description language which is open, unencumbered by patent, and which copyright owners can attach to a piece of content in order to unambiguously inform content users what they can and can't do.

As long as people feel the need to enforce DRM through encryption, they're not going to make it easier for people to circumvent that encryption. I have absolutely no problem with a standardised form of informing users about copyright, so long as they're free to ignore that without the horrendous hacks that it would take to enforce it, like the NGSCB "copyright chip".

Also, the problem with enforceable DRM is that it contradicts fair use legislation. DVD ripping software manufactured in the US might try to stop a Norwegian user ripping a region 2 DVD there, even though it's legal to do so (but illegal IIRC in England, which is the same DVD region).

I'm not opposed to standardised electronic ways of conveying copyright information to the user, I'm just opposed to things which introduce massive complication, insecurity (such as Windows Media Player's DRM code being used to introduce viruses to your computer) and violation of fair use, which will do nothing to stop piracy and everything to harm legitimate users.