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RIAA: We Won't Pursue Mandated DRM Technologies
tekman writes "A New York Times article details an agreement between the RIAA and various hardware and software companies in which the RIAA has agreed to avoid seeking legislation that would mandate technologies in computers and other home electronics to restrict 'unauthorized' copying. The most interesting thing about this is the absence of the MPAA."
Well thank god for that, now we just need to hope we will still be able to buy non-palladium computers in a few years time.
"So stop hacking us, damnit!"
(Score:-1, Wrong)
...entirely from 12AX7 tubes and individual capacitors, resistors, etc.
"...the Business Software Alliance and the Computer Systems Policy Project said they would not support legislation that seeks to bolster the rights of users of digital copyrighted material, which the recording industry has said is unnecessary..."
I don't like this at all. I doubt we'll be getting fair use back anytime soon. In fact, I bet this compromise was just a way for the RIAA to get rid of its opposition in removing it.
GL
Wow... funny in the same day.
this
And now this!
If indeed they do have access to a lot of P2P networks, this would go along with MANY peoples comments about them not needing DRM anymore.
Fishy?
I hope not.
Fundamentalism stops a thinking mind.
I recieved an iPod for Christmas and I'd kinda like to keep it....
In college, really poor, need a flatscreen.
Does anyone else find the statment "details an agreement between the RIAA and various hardware and software companies in which the RIAA has agreed to avoid seeking legislation a little uncomfortable?
the idea, that, two multi-national business organizations (comp. ind. / riaa) have basically made an agreement to A) not "buy" some legislation from their corrupt governmnet and B) further collude in some way to determine the future of the industry.. i thought these people were supposed to be COMPETING???
how f'ing obvious can this be...
There is no way they'd be able to pass legislation requiring computers to have DRM. They'd have to prove computers have no other use besides playing media. Not even the RIAA can bribe enough politicians for that.
They're just trying to spin the fact that they can't force that kind of legislation to make it sound like they're being the good guys.
What difference does it make to them if there's that kind of legislation anyway? They're doing everything they can to restrict their CDs to DRM players as it is.
Jason
ProfQuotes
... what sparked this change of heart. Is the RIAA afraid of Intel and other big companies entering the legal battle? Do they finally realize that they could make money by making internet specific products with these people as allies? Have they figured out that by getting the laws passed, the consumers out there would be made aware of the RIAA's attempts to mess with their rights?
I can't help but think there's a juicy story behind this decision.
Seems like the RIAA and MPAA are thinking clearly and the tech industry isn't. Since the MPAA isn't party to this agreement, they can still campaign for enforced DRM. The tech industry promised the RIAA they wouldn't try to expand rights for consumers (translation: enforce current rights), so they probably won't campaign against the MPAA. The RIAA loses nothing since the MPAA will still do their lobbying, which the tech industry won't oppose them.
That part is great, so is the part about the technology companies (See Dell, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, etc) lobbying congress to NOT mandate DRM technology.
t m
The downside is that the tech companies have also agreed to a self-imposed DRM mandate, and will ALSO drop lobbying for greater consumer rights. From http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/news/4946117.h
"In exchange, the tech companies agreed that government shouldn't alter laws to allow consumers to bypass copyright protection measures to make personal copies of DVDs and other digital works."
Two steps forward, two steps back IMHO.
-73, de n1ywb
www.n1ywb.com
keyword: legislation. They would rather force us to use DRM invented by them or microsoft, instead of something that might be out of their hands.
Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley
Their idiotic hurrahs, I'd like to point out how sinister this actually is.
The only literal thing that has happened, is that they promise not to push for laws that insist on hardware DRM. The manufacturers are of course free to implement it on their own.
Which is the only possible explanation as to why the RIAA would cave like they have.
This isn't a good thing, by far.
Keep your skirt on. The other half of this story is that the hardware manufacturers have agreed to make DRM hardware. Get ready to stock up on the last remaining DRM-free hardware in the near future.
I don't believe a word of this. The legislation being considered for forcing DRM is a result of the RIAA lobbying. So it's 'their' legislation, they're just trying to quash any rumors that may have gotten out of the techy community, so that the average person who's heard the negative hears them say the opposite, shrugs, and stops caring.
This has been a test. Had this been a real emergency, we would have fled in terror and you would not have been informed.
If they had, it would have read like this... from the glass-is-half-empty dept.: Your Rights Online: Electronics makers to lobby against user rights That's the other half of the quid-pro-quo here. The RIAA is willing let go the idea of government mandated DRM, so long as the electronics companies promise to lobby against any pro-user expansions of the definiton of "fair use" or a guarenteed right to backups. Basically, the RIAA would rather have things stay the way they are, then to play the game in Congress. If the RIAA tried to argue for more than they have now, there's a risk that the debate might turn around and result in pro-consumer copyright law changes, and they'd rather talk people out of trying than taking that risk.
Seems to me the industries said "If the Tech Industry stops supporting laws that will ensure fair use rights are protected the RIAA will stop supporting laws that require anti-copying controls in all electronic equipment"
We got hosed tommy, we got hosed.
The idea of Senator Hollings bill was absolutely ludicrous and it wouldn't have been difficult to defeat. Boucher's bill, on the other hand seems to make sense and had a good chance of winning.
I ask, is this a fair trade?
Here's some of the article for those of you too cool to read it yourselves.
As part of the agreement, the Recording Industry Association of America said it would oppose legislation that would require computers and consumer electronics devices to be designed to restrict unauthorized copying of audio and video material. Technology executives have hotly opposed such measures, which they argue would slow innovation, add costs to their devices and do little to stop piracy.
"We think businesses are capable of meeting these challenges," said Hillary Rosen, president of the Recording Industry Association, at a news conference in Washington. "Our industries need to work together for the consumer to benefit and for our respective businesses to grow."
In turn, the Business Software Alliance and the Computer Systems Policy Project said they would not support legislation that seeks to bolster the rights of users of digital copyrighted material, which the recording industry has said is unnecessary.
Several consumer groups and some technology companies, including Intel and Gateway, have supported legislation proposed by Representative Rick Boucher, Democrat of Virginia, that seeks to clarify the rights of copyright users in a digital age.
because I have been enjoined by this Holy Office to abandon the false opinion which maintains that the Sun is the centre
They may not purse legally mandated DRM, but you can bet that they will pursue de-facto DRM through hardware, BIOS and operating system vendors.
What the RIAA is trying to do by keeping DRM mandates out of the hands of legislators is avoid a situation where they are forced to give consumers MORE rights. Fritz Hollings doesn't have as much influence as he used to now that Republicans have control of the Senate again. Someone who 'gets it', like Rick Boucher, could make them very unhappy. They'd rather not fight a battle in Congress if there's a good chance that they wouldn't win.
Does anyone else feel that this is just a non aggression treaty, like the one between Germany and Russia, and both sides are holding off the government until they come up with the killer technology to screw the other side, and us as well?
Maybe it's just me.
"These technology companies, including Microsoft Corp., IBM, Intel Corp. and Dell Computer Corp., also pledged support Tuesday for aggressive enforcement against digital pirates." http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Down loading-Music.html
"Digital Pirates" - aka America
When the Home Recordings Act was passed, it specifically made sure fair use rights were protected. The RIAA certainly didn't go to the same extremes as the MPAA did when the latter got the DMCA passed into law primarily to support its DVD system.
The RIAA has also always been on the right side of the free speech debate. Hilary Rosen has made numerous representations which, so far, have staved off any credible censorship of music. Beyond a token, meaningless, sop to critics of the "Parental Advisory" label, which has no meaning in law or practice - record shops can and do freely sell such content without checking ages - there's not even a rating system. That there isn't is a testiment to Rosen's abilities to keep music free and open.
Ironically, the worst law the RIAA has proposed to protect its members copyrights is also the most libertarian - a proposal that the RIAA be able to hack into computers it believes are being used by those who violate copyright laws. Clearly, it's a dumb law, but it's symptomatic of an industry that really doesn't want people imprisoned for illegally redistributing its stuff. It's a world away from certain software companies and the movie industry who feel that imprisoning someone who merely makes it easier to copy something is just and proper.
Give the group a break, people. It's made some mistakes. It's made presumptions about Napster, etc, users that it shouldn't have and proposed some pretty whacko solutions, but it isn't evil. The RIAA, on this subject, is seriously misguided. It deserves better than the treatment it gets.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
For the technology industry's end of this bargain with the devil, the participants agreed to stop lobbying for a bill protecting consumers' fair use rights to digital media.
The technology companies were the major lobbying force behind the bills to protect consumers' fair use rights. If these corporations aren't going to stand up for our rights, then we'd better do so for ourselves. And the time to do so is right now, before coming DRM technologies erode the rights we have left.
Can you think of a better excuse to write your Congresscritter and tell him or her to support the Boucher bill? If our fair use rights aren't explicitly protected, then they'll slowly disappear as future generations of technology will have more and more restrictions on how you can use the content you paid for. Write to your Congressperson now and let them know you are concerned about this issue!
"As more people steal music (or in their opinions stop paying outrageous prices for music without any money going to the artists), their power will diminish."
If people are using P2P to steal music as you put it, then how come there aren't very many games there? It's not the file size, DVD's get traded way more than games do. So what's the deal?
I'll tell you what the deal is, people aren't opposed to spending money. With games, they can download the demo and try it out legitimately. There's no way to do that with music or videos. Once you open that CD or DVD, it's yours. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.
Call it 'thievery' if you like, I call it ensuring customer satisfaction. Don't believe me? Then explain to me why the RIAA was at their peak while Napster was?
I've done quite a bit of searching for MP3s in my time, and what I have found (Note: this is not a scientific analysis, just an observation) that few people had complete albums. Just about everybody had one or two songs from a given album. That pattern is suggestive of people hunting around for new music to try, not somebody out to save a few bucks.
The funny thing is that all this happened at absolutely 0 cost to the RIAA. Free advertising. They should have looked the other way. Go fig.
Actually, they're doing what Congress told them to do. As you may remember, a couple of years ago during the height of the Napster craze, Congress looked at forcing the music industry to provide music over the Internet. Some of the guidance from Congress, was "industry fix this problem or we'll fix it for you." Anyone who has experienced Congress' help, would rather avoid it in the future. So it is not surprising that these two groups got together. In fact, it is a good thing. Do YOU really want Congress deciding this issue.
Here is a story that explains a little more behind the MPAA's decision:
MPAA Info
"I've done quite a bit of searching for MP3s in my time, and what I have found (Note: this is not a scientific analysis, just an observation) that few people had complete albums. Just about everybody had one or two songs from a given album. That pattern is suggestive of people hunting around for new music to try, not somebody out to save a few bucks."
Lots of people are probably downloading songs because they have a huge collection of CDs and would rather d/l what's already ripped than try to go through each CD and encode it all.
The more reasons I think about why somebody would download an MP3, the less I think the reason is to save money. It takes quite a few albums to make up the cost of an iPod.
"Derp de derp."
RIAA doesn't need goverment mandated DRM because they can mandate it themselves together with computer manufacturers.
You can be sure that next audiodisc format will have VERY strong enpcryption and there won't be any players/soundcards which will provide standard SPDIF out while playing a new format.
"Keep your skirt on. The other half of this story is that the hardware manufacturers have agreed to make DRM hardware. Get ready to stock up on the last remaining DRM-free hardware in the near future."
Dell is going to have a real hard time selling me a new laptop in a couple of years if my old one can do more.
I understand why people are upset about DRM, you should be able to mp3 your own songs, yadda yadda yadda.
But like, c'mon, piracy is rampant. Surely, those of you that *aren't* petty thieves have to understand that some sort of management is necessary? People spend time and money to create software, music, movies, etc., and people go and steal it because they believe
a) they are entitled to it
b) they believe industy X is overcharging
Argument (a) is stupid, nobody is entitled to a product. Argument (b) is also stupid. There is plenty of free music and software available on the internet that isn't illegal. If you're truly upset about overcharging, then use free software. The fact that you steal (in addition to being morally repugnant) is that it just tells the companies you are stealing from that they have a product you want, and the fact that you won't pay them for it forces them to clamp down on it.
Furthermore, why won't any of the thieves that are reading this (and I know some of you are) go to Best Buy and steal a copy of Photoshop or the new Eminem CD?
evil adrian
The NYT articles leaves out some important facts.
From this story: "Under the agreement, technology lobbyists will argue that record companies should be permitted to use hacker-style tactics to disrupt Internet downloads of pirated music and movies."
Great.
I was going to moderate this as 'Redundant' (yes, folks, watch out - I'm armed again!) but decided instead to respond.
Copyright issues aside (you didn't give credit for the source - The New York Times online edition); their servers are not likely to be Slashdotted any time soon. Granted, Joe DSL will probably be Slashdotted within his first five minutes on the front page, but the NYT have big pipes - like Adonis big pipes.
Please, people, stop aiding blatant Karma-whoring.
BD Phone Home!
Shameless plug. Like you weren't expecting it.
Will you idiots wake the fuck up! This is what the BSA has agreed to do for the RIAA:
1) Endorse hacking of computers! Yes the BSA (Microsoft, Apple, DELL, HP and Intel) will lobby congress to allow the RIAA to hack P2P networks, so long as the RIAA is "careful" about it!
2) BSA will "aggressively pursue digital pirates" on behalf of the RIAA. Now you've got Hollywood AND Silicon Valley working together to rifle through your shit!
3) The BSA will help the RIAA defeat any attempt to elucidate the fair use rights of consumers. That's right Hollywood and Silicon Valley will work together to make sure your rights are never spelled out by congress.
All of this in exchange for letting a law drop that was going to be voted down anyway! The RIAA just fucked Silicon Valley, your fair use rights and computer users everywhere in one swoop! This is GREAT news! Idiots.
This deal is a catastrophe and represents a complete cluster-fucking of America by corporate shills; you will pay dearly for it in lost freedom.
This is the worst job I've ever seen Slashdot's editors do. God damn you for spinning this as a win.
Glin
It seems the RIAA and/or BSA have learned to troll Slashdot, since the headline is grievously misleading.
This, "landmark agreement," simply states that BSA and RIAA will lobby against all new legislation on digital policy. Under this "balanced" approach, not only would Senator "Fritz" Hollings' (D-S.C.) bill for mandatory Digital Restrictions Mechanisms get the kibosh, so also would Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif) and Rick Boucher (D-VA) initiative to make exercising Fair Use rights an affirmative defense against DMCA prosecution.
The most telling quote was from BSA head Robert Holleyman, who described the DMCA as, "generally working as it was intended."
This "compromise" measure is nothing of the sort, as it merely seeks to affirm the status quo, doing nothing to redress the harm done and still being done by the DMCA and the lesser-known NET Act.
I also note -- with piqued curiosity -- how the Associated Press report on this story has had significant changes made in the last few hours. The first version I read contained Holleyman's telling DMCA quote and mentioned the effects on Lofgren's and Boucher's bills. The latest version has a considerably different slant, soft-pedaling the announcement and eliding Holleyman's quote.
So the newswires aren't our friends, either.
Schwab
Editor, A1-AAA AmeriCaptions
I forget, which side represented the consumer? Was it the RIAA or Microsoft?
NPR reported this on my way to work this morning. The gist of the conversation is "Hey we won't demand hardware copy protection if you hardware makers help us strip or block every bit of consumer rights legislation that comes through". The goal is that RIAA stops lobbying for mandatory hardware controls and the hardware groups join to lobby against any possible consumer bill of rights. Great "trade".
I hope we can buy a few senators back some day and have groups like the RIAA permanently banned from doing that special kind of business they do. They should have just stuck to certifying gold records.
"Do not be swept up in the momentum of mediocrity." - anon
Look at the sides here and read between the lines: In the left corner, the BSA: the evil organisation which uses tactics that remind me of mafia racketeering to extract mounds of cash from honest people by forcing them to either pay lots for an audit which could, if errors are found, force them to pay even more, or pay even more upfront to save themselves? The organisation who act like they were the police and believe everyone out there is out to steal from their members? In the right side, the RIAA: the evil organisation who'd like nothing less than to see the advent of big brother, with all of us forced to listen to whatever they want us to listen, and to pay for every second we're listening to it. I can imagine all of us chained to a "music meter" that calculates exactly what we owe them, and then a zoom to the RIAA headquarters, with artists chained to their desk to produce "music", virtually slaves to the most powerful organisation in the world, and I know that's Rosen's dream and everyone else's nightmare. In the middle, as referees: the Lawyers, who stand to profit anyway this goes. The result: Evil wins, whatever happens. Whichever side gets the best of the argument won't much matter in the end. But I suspect it will go like that: The computer industry will spontaneously implement DRM methods across the board, just like the RIAA said, but by themselves without any rules or restrictions set by the government, and fair use will die. This profits the BSA, because it is also related to the patenting of code, and the destruction of open source. We'll be doubly screwed. I'd be curious to know exactly which companies refused to get in this. I suspect Apple was one of them. Steve Jobs, you're our only hope!
If he explores all forms and substances Straight homeward to their symbol-essences; He shall not die.
notice that the RIAA wants to stop legislation that will guarantee your fair use rights despite the DMCA. Basically, RIAA will settle for the DMCA as it is, unabridged. That's not progress. That's no deal. That's a step backwards, no matter what the headline to this story reads.
You think I'm a loon? Congress is elected and it's members will do what it takes to stay that way. It's a simple matter to convince people their rights are being infringed, given the current state of outrageous copyright laws. If the public turns its attention to this issue for long, they might just understand it - and poof, many Mikey Mouse schemes will vaporize. Publishers make their living by wooing the public. Time lays waste the plans of mice and men.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.