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Federal Trade Commission To Scrutinize DRM

Posted by Soulskill on from the uncle-sam-is-tired-of-installing-securom dept.

Ars Technica reports that the FTC is getting ready to take a hard look at gaming DRM, setting up a town hall meeting to be held on March 25th. They're currently recruiting panelists, and they say the meeting will, in part, "address the need to improve disclosures to consumers about DRM limitations." The controversy over DRM came to a head in 2008 with the release of Spore and the multiple subsequent class-action lawsuits focusing on the SecuROM software that came with the game. Ars Technica says the town hall meeting will also look at "legal issues surrounding DRM" and "the potential need for government involvement to protect consumers."

3 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Are Pigs Flying? by teg · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple moved in the right direction a long time ago - the big news yesterday was that the remaining big record companies allowed Apple to sell their music without DRM. Apple has done so with EMI and smaller labels for a while now.

  2. RIAA and MPAA license to big game developers by tepples · · Score: 4, Informative

    What does the MAFIAA have to do with gaming DRM?

    • RIAA members license music for use in DDR, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band.
    • RIAA members license music for use in sport simulations.
    • MPAA members license story treatments, settings, and characters for use in games based on film or TV franchises.
    • Sony makes video game consoles and is also a member of the RIAA and MPAA.
  3. Re:Woot! by Ascagnel · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sony, a RIAA/MPAA member, is the author of SecuROM. For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securom

    --
    "It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine."