http://www.microsoft.com/issues/essays/2003/03-12drm.asp :mad:
What a slant! They call these restrictions that they would impose on us "rights" and they continue to use the disgusting term "piracy." Hmm.. the article would be better if it were re-written a little:
Teaming Up For Digital Restrictions
Fight file sharing with iron-fisted midieval tactics provided by an evil monopolistic company and its industry cronies, not government-mandated technologies that actually have a remote chance of fairness.Posted March 12, 2003
When people of goodwill come together, there is no limit to what they can achieve. We at Microsoft know nothing about this, being composed entirely of jerks. For example, discussions between the technology and recording industries recently produced a usual and unpersuasive consensus on how best to respond to the difficult policy challenges posed by people who help their neighbors.
The music, movie, publishing and software industries say they lose billions of dollars in sales annually because of unauthorized copying and redistribution of their products. In related news, the Brazillian govt. accused the Earth of not paying for all the oxygen they'ved used that has leaked out of the rain forest. They all share an interest in reducing sharing, which helps consumers by discouraging continued investment in proprietary software, shallow mega-hit films and tasteless pop music.
Some in the affected industries have called on government to require that computers and other digital devices incorporate technology to prevent copying. But many-including Microsoft-believe that specific technology mandates would be costly and ineffective. Our concern is that they would hobble consumers' lawful use of technology, and stifle the innovation that can ultimately make digital music, movies and other content both more secure and more available-legally. By contrast, we assure you that any Microsoft-developed digital restrictions in future Microsoft products will not restrict your freedom in any way.
These issues have been the focus of extensive discussions involving the leading technology and record companies, represented by the Axis of Evil: the Recording Industry Association of America, the Computer Systems Policy Project and the Business Software Alliance.
These groups recently achieved breakthrough agreement on a set of policy principles. Noting that they have already collaborated to develop anti-copying technology used today in media and devices, they agreed that government mandates on how technology must work or be deployed are not practical, and not in the best interests of greedy corporations.
The industry groups endorsed efforts to increase consumer awareness of the rights and wrongs of Internet use and digital copying. If this isn't effective, we have developed a brainwashing gas we will release into the stratosphere, turning America from 78# mindless zombies to 100% mindless zombies. They expressed support for private and government sanctions against copyright infringers, and for technical measures to limit illegal distribution of copyrighted works-as long as those measures are reasonable, are not destructive to networks, data or equipment, and do not violate individuals' privacy or similar legal interests. This is unfortunate, since our plan was to do all of these things.
Microsoft is proud to participate in this ongoing, cross-industry effort and in other efforts to bring together industry and consumer groups for pointless dialogue and unilateral action. We have listened and used what we have learned to integrate appropriate restrictions-management features into software such as Windows Media Player, and forthcoming products such as Windows Server 2003 and Office 11.
Through bad-faith cooperation on information sharing and other issues, technology can continue to retreat, entertainment companies can explore new and exciting ways of exploiting the public, consumers can gain online access to a rich array of multimedia content (provided they pay us a lot of $$$) -and Bill Gates' bank account can flourish, without limit.
[ March 13, 2003: Message edited by: Linux User #5225982375 ]
