Attempts To Stop Music Sharing Pointless?

job0 writes "An interesting paper (Word document) has been submitted by some Microsoft employees (although they are careful to state that that the views are theirs and not necessarily Microsoft's) to the 2002 ACM Workshop on Digital Rights Management stating that attempts by the record industry to stop music copying will fail simply because a) the growth and availability of affordable broadband and cheap data storage devices and b )ability of users to circumvent any DRM measures means that the number of people willing to swap is growing and will soon outstrip attempts to shut them down. The paper goes to suggest that the record industry should concentrate their efforts on trying music cheaper and easier to get hold off. I wonder if Hilary and friends have had a read. The BBC is also carrying the story." (OpenOffice has no problem with the paper, btw.)

Comments

therefore...

[erikdotla]

Users can circumvent everything... except Palladium! That's right, our patented DRM technology is the ONLY thing that our report indicates will be immune to these devilish file-sharing schemes! Sign your record label up today before your business goes to pot, and recieve a free Microsoft Toaster! (Requires MS Bread and an MS Power Converter, best served on MS Plates with MS Utensils.)

Re:Surely, there is little they can do

[Anonymous Coward]

Because irrespective if they do make a DRM system that is secure, you can still intercept the audio and video outside of the computer. With DVI video interfaces and fibreoptic audio outputs, the loss of quality would be negligable.

Or do they intend to make everyone use "sealed" computers...

Neither. The RIAA's problem is that people are
hearing their so-called music without paying for
it.

Senator Hollings is home now, busy preparing a bill to introduce at the next session of Congress which will solve this problem, in the following manner, which is acceptable to Ms. Rosen & crew:

All persons will have their eardrums removed at
birth. Electronic implants provided by the RIAA
will be inserted (for which you will pay a monthly rental).

Whenever you hear a tune, you will be billed
(major credit card required).

In the unlikely event you hear a tune you like,
please try not to hum it - additional performance fees will be charged.

Irv

Re:Of course it's pointless

[Beliskner]

Trying to stop any popular activity brings more problems than intended. I'll use as an example Prohibition of Alcohol in the USA. It was a big boost to Organized Crime.

OK. Let's do a proper balanced analysis here.

For DRM
Any and all music will be available to everybody for free at the click of a Kazaa button. Impossible to make money out of this, even for artists, unsigned artists don't have expensive mixing equipment nor gay extroverts with pink-haired poodles
Creating "popular" music/movies that all your customers like won't make you money, sending a message that success is not rewarded financially, nobody in the United States/World will want to get a job, therefore Capitalism will collapse and Sharia Law may be imposed by a replacement power (I'm not joking)
When the ROI on making songs and forming bands becomes zero, there will be no new music, radio stations will constantly repeat 60's music. Where would we be without Britney/Madonna/MichaelJackson/ElvisPresley?
Piracy extends to movies, the majority of movies are flops, paid for by the big hyped up "standard" movies like Titanic, which is exactly what'll be affected by piracy (how many Chinese big budget $200million movies are there?) causing a collapse in the special effects and computer industries (AliasWavefront will go bankrupt)
If for 10 years no new "popular" music nor movies are created, there'll be a massive spread in depression and suicide rates - PEOPLE WILL DIE! In Civilisation 3 remove all Entertainment and see what happens

Against DRM
Stifles computer innovation, DRM-hardware allows monopolical tyranny, and impedes legitimate computer uses
Difficult to make transparent, therefore necessitates Comp Ed lessons and licensing of computer users "It's illegal to use a computer unless..."
Damages First Amendment freedoms
RIAA/MPAA not forced to explore more efficient distribution mechanisms
No incentive for musicians/moviemakers to add extras to movies such as theaters with laser shows and smell-a-vision

Re:Of course it's pointless

[Hope Thelps]

And on top of that, it's my way of dumping the digital tea into the harbour.

Leading to mutated virus-carrying micro-fishes, that's all we need :(