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DRM and Democracy

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the more-restrictions-are-always-fun dept.

jar writes to tell us Bruce Perens has a short editorial on why DRM could have an impact on much more than just our record collections. From the article: "Within the last century, electronic communications have increasingly become the vehicle of democratic discourse. Because radio and television broadcasting are expensive with limited frequencies available, the wealthy have dominated broadcasting. The Internet and World Wide Web place into the common man's hands the capability of global electronic broadcasting. [...] In order to protect democratic discourse in the future, the Internet must remain a fair and level playing field for the distribution of political speech. The full capability of the Internet must remain available to all, without restriction by religious, business, or political interests."

8 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. internet politics by MrSquirrel · · Score: 5, Funny

    "the Internet must remain a fair and level playing field for the distribution of political speech."
    Like: 'bush is teh gh3y.' "no, gore pWnz u." 'bush/cheney ftw.' "you stole my election!"
    [ANALOGY TIME] Finding political speech on the internet is like finding poop in the toilet: it's easy to find, but you don't want to see it.

    --
    A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
    1. Re:internet politics by mooingyak · · Score: 2, Funny

      Finding political speech on the internet is like finding poop in the toilet: it's easy to find, but you don't want to see it.

      I'd say it's more like sifting through poop: You've got to dig through tons of crap before you can find a tasty peanut.

      --
      William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  2. Re:Yeah maybe, by Tackhead · · Score: 5, Funny
    > But probably not. The truth of the matter is that there will be a 100 petabyte flashdrive that people hand around that has ALL of music on it and the issue will be moot.

    "Real Americans don't use backups, they just email a disk image to their grandmothers and let NSA handle the archiving!"
    - with apologies to Linus

  3. I trademark the term by Fr05t · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... "DRMocrazy"

    Next Step: PROFIT!

  4. DRM Thoughts by Alex+P+Keaton+in+da · · Score: 2, Funny

    How long until they DRM our thoughts? I mean with singing sensation Meatloaf trying to lay claim to the phrase "Bat out of Hell" http://www.playfuls.com/news_0000516_Meatloaf_My_B at_Out_Of_Hell.html I am going to trademark "like um" and then be rich, I am talking crazy boy band rich....

    --
    And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
  5. Re:Why Net Neurtality legislation is so important by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Encrypting a DVD to prevent illegal copying is good.

    Un, un! Lbh pna'g pbcl guvf.

    KFG

  6. Slashdot-News for turds, stuff that splatters? by thc69 · · Score: 1, Funny
    It's our right to make poop. Some of it can even be used as fertilizer.
    Why is that modded "troll"? I suppose it's OT, but he's got a point.

    This is what we've been reduced to...New slogan:
    Slashdot: News for turds, stuff that splatters
    --
    Procrastination -- because good things come to those who wait.
  7. Re:exactly... by Kadin2048 · · Score: 2, Funny

    send your grandma some oggs today.

    I would, but the upstream bandwidth of my Ouiji board is capped too low.

    --
    "Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."