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NCC Calls for Laws to Protect User Rights

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the where-is-the-hidden-agenda dept.

earthlingpink writes "We're used to reading articles about new and creative ways in which DRM and other such technologies can be used to prevent us from doing whatever we like with our media. The BBC offers us a glimmer of hope with a story about how the National Consumer Council (NCC) has made a report to a parliamentary inquiry in which it has highlighted the issues faced by many of us. From the article: 'Consumers face security risks to their equipment, limitations on their use of products, poor information when purchasing products and unfair contract terms.'"

6 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Feh... by dada21 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Given how big business has subverted the Democratic process, expect those who proposed this to be quietly removed from office...

    Big business comes directly out of the democratic process. Whenever you give 51% of the people control over the individual's freedom, you can expect there to be abuse.

    Our country was never intended to be democratic -- our Congress and our Executive branches were to be strictly limited in scope and in power. They had no ability to abuse the individual just because the voting majority said to.

    I don't trust democracy. It doesn't surprise me that laws are written to help the elite few at the expense of the many. If I offered you US$1 billion if you worked 40 hours a week for 2 years, would you take it? If I told you I'd put a gun to your head and take US$3 out of your pocket a year for 2 years, would you fight it?

    US$3 per person x 300 million people = US$1 billion. A lobbiest that works 40 hours a week has reason to fight for his billion, while you have little reason to fight against giving up US$3 for him.

    Democracy is evil, support Unanimocracy!

  2. Be Proactive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Things you can do to prevent DRM:

    1. Not buy from people who use it, an alternitive should be available.

    2. Sell products without DRM

    3. Not illegally share media

    4. Vote for guys who are against it.

    Other Ideas would be helpful

  3. Hmmm.. by KwKSilver · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Interesting post. Had I mod points, I'd mod you up.I think the US founding fathers agreed about democracy. In a pure democracy 51% (actually 50% +1) can decree the execution of the other 49%. During the Peloponnesian War the citizens of Athens democratically voted to put all the men on one island to death & enslave the rest. Happily, it reversed itself in time to stop the mass murder. Democracy in action.

    --
    If you want your life to be different, live it differently.
    1. Re:Hmmm.. by dada21 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I disagree completely.

      Money is not the problem, power is. We gave the central government too much power, so those who wanted power run for office. If we took the power away, money wouldn't be an issue. No power to control means no reason to be corrupt.

      Spends money to me is expression: it shouldn't be controlled. If Congress was severely limited in power, infinite money in bribes would get the briber nothing.

      Campaign finance laws do nothing but keep incumbents in office. Want to fix the system? Abolish the FEC and return the central government to its Constitutional limits.

    2. Re:Hmmm.. by LordFnord · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Very interesting post. I have a question, though:

      You'll also see that the federal budget would (a) no longer have the capacity for pork-barrel crap, and (b) would no longer have the need for such money, since it's drastically out-of-scope for that level of government.

      Who pays for the big stuff?

      Who pays for transport infrastructure? Motorways costs millions of dollars per kilometre to build, non-trivial sums to maintain, and require expensive engineering projects like bridges and tunnels along the way. Who looks after national defence and intelligence? Who administers things like state pensions and benefits?

      I'm concerned that under your system we'd end up with a magnified version of what we in .uk call "postcode lottery", where local councils provide services to various areas and many people are in the position of having the street they live on determine things like the quality of their childrens' education or whether they'll wait one month or eighteen for their heart bypass operation.

  4. For the time being... by sillysnipes · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ...the reality is that until companies such as EMI, Sony, etc, realise that DRM hurts their profits more than benefit, we will continue to see new and more invasive DRM technology being pushed on to us.

    All we can do is veto such products and make it known to the bands that the DRM their company placed on the CD are hurting their sales.

    I'd love to get some of the latest CD, but, with the copy protected emblem on the back and saying it may not actually work on pretty much any device makes me keep my money.

    Laws would be nice, but it wouldn't surprise me if the industry fought such a thing all the way to the high courts. Being told what to do would be such a culture shock for the industry :)