Posted by Loco Jones on 10/03/06 17:52

"Technobarbarian" <Technobarbarian-ztopzpam@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e0tUg.1682$La2.683@fed1read08...
> "Loco Jones" wrote...
> > >> ( s n i p )
> >> What "rights" are they trying to take away from you?
> >> TB
> >
> > Hmmm... let's see... the "media companies" are trying to over-turn,
> > or at least re-write, the Home Taping Act (ref: betamax decision)...
> > they have gone on record as being firmly opposed to the "first sale
> > doctrine" (where you can sell your purchased media on the secondary
> > market)... and now, with the plethora of DRM-crippled "product" being
> > offered, they are trying to restrict the right to listen/view at the
consumer's
> > convenience.
> >
> > Sure, "consumer rights" have always been tenuous at best, but at least
> > people were allowed to enjoy their purchases as they saw fit... they
could
> > share with friends without fear of reprisal, they could make back-up
copies
> > of expensive media to take to the cottage, on a car trip, or any other
instance
> > where the valuable original might be lost, or they could re-sell those
pricey
> > "impulse purchases" if they so desired... but those days are numbered -
IF
> > the Copyright Cartel gets their way.
> >
> > People buy things so they can say "I own that (and I have the right to
do
> > with it what I wish)" - but in the future, I suspect that will be
changed to
> > "I rented that", or "I paid for a license for that once, but it
expired."
> > Not someplace I want to find myself - ever. Do yourself a favour and
> > subscribe to the EFF newsletter - Global Corporatification is something
> > to be feared.
>
> Gee, and I thought people bought things to use them. The claimed
> "right" to do whatever you wish with intellectual property has not
exixted
> since the first copyright laws. If you had that "right" you could make
and
> sell as many copies as you wished.

Please re-read what I wrote - at no point did I say "make and sell as many
copies as you wish". Don't put words in my mouth.

People do buy things to use them - and personal back-up copies (as many as
they like), "time-shifting" (or media/device shifting), and re-sale of
purchased goods ARE uses consumers have had the right to. I'm not talking
about "unauthorized copying, distribution, or broadcast" restrictions -
those have always been clearly marked on copyrighted material, and for the
most part, the general populace has accepted that. Even those who traded
mix-tapes of records they bought.

The statement "do with it what I like" refers to what has been LEGALLY
acceptable in the past, but is now in danger of being outlawed. Remember,
I'm speaking as a consumer, and not a for-profit bootlegger/counterfeiter.

Unless I'm charging people to listen to or watch copyrighted material, that
"unauthorized broadcast prohibited" clause shouldn't (and doesn't) come
into play. Theoretically, in the future, it *could* apply to a gathering of
family and friends enjoying each other's Christmas CD/DVD presents. While
the RI/MPAA might like to equate that scenario with a disc-stamping plant
in some third world country which manufactures and sells "pirated" copies,
some of us can still make the - very real - distinction.

DRM is a success at alienating the consumer, and a complete failure at
preventing the type of abuse copyright was originally designed for. Perhaps
I should have said... "I bought this and have the right to enjoy it as I
see fit"... since the "media companies" seem intent on
restricting/controlling my enjoyment with every wacky new anti-piracy
scheme they cook up. These cannibals have the wrong people in the pot.

Lest we forget, the Sony Rootkit debacle - enough said.

- Loco -
(Now Playing: Rebel Yell - Billy Idol)

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