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DRM Protest in Hazmat Suits
johnsu01 writes "The Free Software Foundation launched a new anti-DRM initiative today with a flash protest at Bill Gates's keynote speech to Microsoft developers in Seattle. They're calling the new campaign 'Defective by Design' and have named Big Media, device manufacturers and proprietary software companies as targets. CivicActions is participating as a coalition partner in the campaign. Protesters donned HazMat suits, apparently to emphasize the hazard Digital Restrictions Management poses to their rights." There are also a few pictures available over at Defectivebydesign.org.
FSF used to be about "creating" free software, not stealing original "content". This is a fairly significant, but relatively subtle evolution.
And I definitely think the hazmat costumes detract from their message. You'd think they would've learned from PETA and brought some naked folks to protest instead of dressing up like idiots to make their point.
He witness first hand that there are people more eccentric than he is. He is beside himself in grief! Hazmat costumes? Were they trying to bluff the attendees into believing the building had a hazardous leak and thus not attend? Oh yes, they were making a statement! Well, at least, they left their Star Trek costumes at home.
Oh yeah, I know you are ready mod me troll or flamebait. But wait, "DRM is evil!!!" Now you have a conundrum on your hands. Good luck sorting that out
You don't have to be smart to use a Mac, you just have to be smart enough to buy one
That the first thing you need to do is educate consumers as to why they should care.
Has it ever occurred to you that the mass of people don't really give a crap if they can't pirate music? Most people are content to listen to music that they purchased for their own use. Most people don't mind paying for books. The tinfoil hat crew has to come out of the woodwork and warn us that our rights are going to hell in a handbasket if we maintain the status quo, that is, we continue to pay for content. Well, it hasn't happened yet.
Unfortunately Joe Average Consumer doesn't have the foggiest idea about Copyright in general, much less the new mechanims being put in place to "protect" it.
And why should they care? DRM isn't keeping them from enjoying the content they've paid for. It isn't an issue for "Joe Public". If DRM is ever a problem, you can bet that the average American will stand up for their rights, but as such, no infringement has taken place. Get over your self-importance.
by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
You are preaching to the chior... They will never listen.
Attention? What attention?
The home team has a shot at the Stanley Cup. The kids are out playing soccer. We'll be launching the boat this weekend.
If you ignore the people who want to make backups of their DVD's so the kids don't scratch up the originals, but can't. And if you ignore the people who want to format shift their music from CD's to some other player, but can't, or run the risk of having their computer disabled by buggy DRM software. And if you ignore all the people who buy eBooks and then want to view them on a device other than which it was orginally purchased on, but can't. And if you ignore the people who buy music online and then want to move it to another computer, but can't.
Relatively speaking, it's still a small list.
-h-
Life must be very exciting for you though.
Always: "Look there's a troll, watch out"
or : "Ah-ha! A troll, but it didn't fool me because I'm smart!"