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FSF Supports Today's Boston March Against DRM In HTML5 (defectivebydesign.org)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the defective-by-design dept.

Atticus Rex writes: A small artist-led group called Ethics in Tech is joining the long-simmering struggle between streaming video giants and Internet freedom activists over whether the Web should include Digital Rights Management in its technical standards. This Saturday, Ethics in Tech will lead a march on the W3C, the body -- led by Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee -- that decides on Web standards.
The Free Software Foundation is promoting the march, and their "Defective By Design" site is sharing this quote from the march's organizers. Dear W3C: we demand you comply with UNESCO and international civil and political rights. Halt EME -- ensure the protection of a secure, accessible, and open web. Make ethical standards or stand on the wrong side of history.

11 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. You reader, please show support by what+about · · Score: 4, Informative

    Even if you cannot go to the march you can support the cause by messaging, spreading the news and letting fellow citizen know the issue.

    Engage on the issue with your friends, it is not useless, it is our world.

    1. Re:You reader, please show support by therealspacebug · · Score: 2

      But is the cause right and just? DRM protects media company profits by making piracy difficult. As long as the DRM does not spy on me or cause other harm, there's nothing wrong with it.

      And how can you check that it's not doing that since it's not open? No harm in using closed source stuff if that's not ment to not harm you? How about the Intel ME / AMT bug? This is not about piracy, it's about security.

    2. Re:You reader, please show support by grumbel · · Score: 2

      If DRM goes into HTML or not won't make much of a difference, if anything it will open things up a little since you will be able to use your browser more often to watch video instead of a proprietary App. It's not like the FSF is wrong on being against DRM, but it has little chance of success here.

      In general I am not really happy with much of what the FSF has been doing lately. Their intentions are noble, but when you want to actually change things you can't just say "No", you have to provide a realistic alternative. Back when Windows95/98/ME was the 'threat', GNU/Linux provided a good alternative. But with phones, tablet, web services, cloud computing and such they feel hopelessly behind.

    3. Re:You reader, please show support by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      And how exactly are we supposed to "spread the news" if we're also against crap like FaceBook, Twitter, etc?

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    4. Re:You reader, please show support by Z80a · · Score: 2

      It is not a very good idea because it violates one basic rule: you never make the pirate product better than the original product.
      As you pointed out, it makes difficult but not impossible, which means that as soon your DRM gets cracked, the pirate version will not be hampered by the DRM while the original, paid for one will.

      Things like netflix are a much better weapon against piracy because they simply simplify the process of buying the original so much, your laziness gets you.
      But the fact netflix is not an product of the media industry kinda shows how out of touch they are.

  2. Don't like DRM? Don't watch such content! by mi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you don't like, how the content is sold to you, then do not buy it . Very simple, eh?

    But, no, as a good "Illiberal" — and you can't be one without an Authoritarian screaming inside you — you have to make sure, no one else can buy it either.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Don't like DRM? Don't watch such content! by Oligonicella · · Score: 2

      I support DRM being available in the HTML 5 standard, I am a flaming liberal.

      You're an AC and nothing you write about yourself is worth believing.

  3. The wrong side of the wrong side of history by davide+marney · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hate it when people making purely subjective, moral arguments disguise it as being factual. There is no right or wrong "side" of history one could be on.

    --
    "We receive as friendly that which agrees with, we resist with dislike that which opposes us" - Faraday
  4. Self-affirmation of assholes. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "I'm right, therefore, everyone else is not only wrong, but also they're Hitler."

  5. it is the camel's nose by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Once camel has nose in tent, rest of camel soon follows. End game is transfer of control away from end user. Presently end user controls display of web content: ad blockers, tracking blockers, blocking scripts trying to disable right click menus or "save as", blocking popups, all possible today. The DRM-on-web goal is partly about streaming content but end game is DRM for all page content, to deny local control and thus local ability to block ads, tracking, and script imposed limitations.

    The web where the end user was in control was not acceptable and is being reeled back. Goal is TV 2.0. Goal is clawing back control temporarily in the hands of end user after web caught certain interests off guard. Neither govt neither corporations want end user control of web browsing experience. If a few will find a way around it does not matter: the majority will follow the herd. It suffices to steer the herd.

  6. manipulative use of language by ooloorie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ethics in Tech

    I generally think DRM and standardized DRM is not a good idea. But hell would freeze over before I would support any group called "Ethics in Tech", no matter what their position may be.

    People who use terminology like that are saying clearly that they are unwilling to engage in open, honest debate with other people, and instead want to verbally beat up anybody they disagree with.

    Note that a group of "developers, thinkers, artists, and digital citizens" calling themselves "Ethics in Tech" might well come down on either side of the DRM debate, since many "creative people" believe that copying their works without their permission is "unethical".