Libraries Say DRM May Harm Their Services

Ernest Adams writes "The BBC is reporting that the British Library is concerned about DRM's effect on its ability to make materials available to the public. Libraries have a legal right to distribute materials under the Fair Use provisions of the copyright law, but DRM systems may block this. Furthermore, they point out that DRM systems don't automatically switch themselves off when a work goes out of copyright. DRM systems may allow copyright holders to retain control over their material longer than they are legally entitled to. Worse yet, if the software no longer exists to unlock a DRM-protected file, its contents may be lost forever -- exactly the thing libraries are intended to prevent." We've discussed stories like this before.

Comments

Re:The right to control material

[wannabgeek]

I'm not sure I agree with this point of view. It seems to me that it's not a right to control material and copyright confers, but the right to legal protection from infringement on that material. If I decide I want to go a step further with something I produce, and lock it up in a way that will keep people from doing what they want with it after I can no longer count on legal protection, then isn't that my prerogative?

That said, I don't really agree with that approach, I'm just not a fan of telling a creator what they can do with their creation.

It is your prerogative as long as you do not sell any rights to anyone. If you have sold copies of yours then you're willing to forgo some of your rights for money, and you have to accept the limits. What people are objecting to, is use of DRM when you sell copies of your creation - and wanting to perpetuate your rights.