Atomictumor

Maybe I’m starting out on the wrong foot today because I have to face the justice of The Man regarding my speeding incident a while back, but all I have to write about today is how much Whitey is planning on bringing us all down. 

First, from ArsTechnica, a report on how Intel is working on technology to go crazy on DRM protection.  DRM (Digital Rights Management) is what the intellectual content industries (RIAA, MPAA, etc) whipped up to stop those dirty pirate downloaders from sending them all to the poorhouse.  Problem is, as ArsTechnica has been good at keeping up with, the DRM is going a lot farther than keeping computers from downloading and using software illegally in a direction that will put money in Big Content’s pocket. 

As ArsTechnica pointed out in their report, Intel’s new plan is to build into licensing agreements (required to build hardware that would use future technologies, thanks to the convoluted copyright laws in this country) a fail-safe that would cause the device (TV, DVD Player, etc) to actually stop working permanently if users find a way around these DRM protections.  On top of that, the manufacturer would be on the line to get up to an $8 million dollar fine from Intel for the trouble.  Lets go, cutting edge!  Just as long as nobody uses it for an unintended use, that is…

I don’t really have a problem with companies trying to protect their content (music, movies, software, etc) from casual downloaders.  They’re never going to protect it from committed downloaders, because the pirate and warez community is composed of the same people they hire to create the protections, and there’s just too many smart people out there with nothing better to do.  C’est la vie. 
What I do have a problem with are these companies using DRM as a trojan horse to get rid of consumer’s rights to fair use.  Remember the VCR?  They have a new one now called the DVR, but you’re going to have to pay just a bit to record cousin Jim’s appearance on American Idol, because if you don’t the DVR will automatically delete it in 30 minutes.  Sucks huh?  Thats fair use, 2006.  

I’d tell you what else I’m seeing bringing me down, but this garbage took too much space.  Heres something cool, instead… 

Despite the Keanu Reevesness of the movie (whoa), it should kick some major ass.   I like being oppressed, as long as they make entertaining art out of it.