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Britons Frustrated by DRM

Posted by timothy on from the hence-the-inhibitions dept.

thesp writes "The BBC is reporting that UK music lovers are 'frustrated' with DRM restrictions and pricing of online music purchases. The confusion over file formats and player compatibility are being compounded with the desire to 'own' rather than 'license' an album or track, leading to widespread concern. This debate has recently been the province only of the technologists and the media companies, with the consumer being regarded as unaware and unwitting. Is this a sign that this picture is changing, with consumers begining to realise and leverage their own market power?"

11 of 565 comments (clear)

  1. Hey Brits!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's called a "tea party". Throw your music into the Thames!

    You know about tea, right??

    1. Re:Hey Brits!! by salparadyse · · Score: 5, Funny

      Never, ever make a joke about tea to an Englishman. It's on the same level as flag burning in the US.

    2. Re:Hey Brits!! by NetNifty · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well put it this way... I'm English and my family of 5 goes through 26 pints of milk a week purely on tea.

      --
      Linux Wireless Hardware in the UK
    3. Re:Hey Brits!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Eh, it's grim up north, or should that be ooh aar you bugger? I'll be throwing mine in the Grand Union canal. Have you seen the rain today? Still, mustn't grumble.

    4. Re:Hey Brits!! by surprise_audit · · Score: 5, Funny
      Never, ever make a joke about tea to an Englishman. It's on the same level as flag burning in the US.

      It's worse than that - the Romans attempted to invade Britain several times, and were only successful when they hit on the idea of landing on a Friday at 4pm, during teatime. The Romans had plenty of time to establish fortifications on the shore before the British warriors returned on the following Monday.

  2. Great!!! by kataflok · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's the beginnings of a massive world wide revolt where everyone starts downloading their music from bittorrent.......


    Oh wait....

    --
    Mod me up, mod me down, flame me, praise me -- whatever you do, you help prove I exist...
  3. I was locked into a technology once... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wanna buy an 8-track tape?

    I got tons of 'em

  4. Re:consumers voicing their opinion? by ColdGrits · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's true.

    We're British; we like to moan about things; that's what we do.

    Hell, we've been moaning about the weather here for centuries but nobody does anything about it, what makes you think this will be any different?

    We find something to moan about, we complain that "somebody" should Do Something about it, and then we get on with our lives.
    We never actually intend for Something to be Done - we'd lose something to moan about!

    --
    People should not be afraid of their governments - Governments should be afraid of their people.
  5. Sadly... by dos_dude · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... a frustrated consumer doesn't automagically turn into a consumer that is aware of his/her own market power.

    If that were the case, consumers would be able to program their VCRs (because only usable VCRs would be sold), Windows would be a lot safer, spyware would be non-existant, etc, etc.

    And even if consumers were aware of their market power, they'd need a vendor that would provide what they want.

  6. Re:it was bound to happen by Darren+Winsper · · Score: 3, Funny

    "(darn pund symbol =oP)"
    Here's a few, try not to spend them all at once:

    £££££££

  7. Re:Utter Bull-dada by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Romans were about 1600 year too early (pre British Empire & the East India Company) for that.

    Is there a mod for "utter lack of a sense of humor"?

    -Eric

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.