Slashdot Mirror
The Customer is Always Wrong
McSpew writes "Hackers author Steven Levy so far is the only person in the mainstream press to pick up on the the travesty of the SSSCA hearings. He points out that only the media giants could be so stupid as to think treating their customers like criminals will increase sales." Steven's a very smart guy - and very well said on this issue.
OK, I'll play devil's advocate.
" Consumer advocates are appalled that the copy-protected discs deny users their legal rights to copy music for personal use on digital devices like computers and MP3 players."
Sometimes people say "right" when they mean privilege. A right is something guaranteed by the Constitution and cannot be taken away without due process. You have a right to freedom but it can be taken away if you break the law (Say by stealing someone's intellectual property) after you receive due process (A trial). A privilege on the other hand can pretty much disappear with little or no due process. Lawmakers can simple create a law (Usually a bad one.) and POOF! Privilege gone.
Like it or not, unauthorized trading of copyrighted music is stealing from whoever controls the copyright. Period.
So, rather than bitch, piss and moan about the reaction of the victims of unauthorized trading of copyrighted music, why not have a discussion about how we can stop the thievery without losing our privileges?
The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!