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ZDNet wants you to boycott DRM

news.zdnet.com — The video says it all.

Who dugg this? Made popular Mar 26, 2006

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  • Osjpr, on 10/12/2007, -3/+46DRM=CRAP technology

    David Berlind is a saint.
  • WernerCD, on 10/12/2007, -1/+41lol You sound like the knucklehead

    They don't stop you from playing non-drm... that wasn't said ANYWHERE in the video. Non-DRM don't have 'CRAP' around it. But I dare you to spend a couple hundred dollars on iTunes then go buy a Creative Zen or whatever and see if FairPlay works on it.

    THATs what the video is about. If you buy something why shouldn't it play acrost various players? Would you accept a Disney DVD only playing on Disney branded DVD players... or Sony CD's can only play on Sony CD players... so why is this acceptable? It's not... so boycott Draconian Restriction Mechanisms aka CRAP

    If I had my own music/movies, the **IA's of the world couldn't stop me from selling my stuff. How do you think the world survived before **IA? How do you think they will survive after them? Not that hard. Youve fallen hook/line/sinker for their FUD. Wake up. Think for yourself.
  • fredinator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Someone, please put an ad on TV about boycotting DRM!!!
  • Hohenheim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Hehe, the problem isn't with the player...it's with the markets that support content for the player.

    Rather than flat out stopping the purchasing of devices like the iPod or the Creative Zen PMC, take a step back...look at the situation...and don't buy DRM'd music/video content. There are plenty of ways to get legal content onto your devices without having the industry's hands all over your junk.

    Sure, it'll probably stunt the development of these markets for a few years, but once they realize that people KNOW what they're trying to do to the media they have rightfully purchased liscenses to use, they'll get the picture and change their ways...not.

    Really, there's nothing we can do. The RIAA and MPAA have Apple & MSs' balls in a clinch and they can't do a damn thing about it. The problem isn't with us the early adopters, it's with all the ignorant people out there who don't understand the significance of the battle being waged over content management. Those are the people who are too stuck in their ways to even want one of these devices, and unfortunately they're the same people who have control over lawmaking procedure.
  • RealSurreal, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21this man says it all thank you ...David Berlind you kick ass!!
  • Discourses, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19The reason why companies are allowed to get away with crap like DRM is because of stupids like hunchback.
  • Yarnage, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15I agree with this video and today's consumers are completely blind to this issue.

    Though, one thing I didn't like is that he never mentions that Players Microsoft likes, Apple likes, and Sony likes will play MP3s. If we can get music services to offer MP3s then it wouldn't be quite as bad (even though MP3s are not as good as CD quality music, especially at 192kbps like most services offer with their C.R.A.P.)
  • Ignathius, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14i bought an iPod because it's the best *MP3 player* i could find. it doesn't have a single .aac file (or whatever apples C.R.A.P. is) on it. i don't have a single piece of DRM'd music. if i get something from say iTunes, i'll convert it to MP3, thus bypassing any layers of C.R.A.P. and leaving me with a file i can do what i want with. same goes with any other types of C.R.A.P.. convert to MP3, dump the C.R.A.P., play as i wish.
  • freexe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12I support emusic.com, you can download DRM free MP3s that are of a good bit quality while still supporting the artists that made them.

    I think that in the future people will become aware of the issues of DRM, but we should take upon ourselfs to make people aware of the issues now, and this video might help with that.
  • solarcanine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13You'd prefer Quicktime, maybe?

    Oh, that's an extra software download for Windown and Linux.

    And god forbid they use mpeg, which would play natively on every OS' player of choice. That'd just make too much damn sense.
  • Strangers, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13I think eMusic and some other online music sites don't have C.R.A.P., yet one iTunes has sold one billion plus songs? Blind is correct. What's worse is governments buying into it, and supporting it.
  • pezz453, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11The point is to give you some insight and learn the rest for yourself.

    It's an eye opener, not a lecture.
  • toad3k, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12After I finished playing the wmv file for this presentation, mplayer informed me:

    Thank you for downloading a media file containing proprietary and patented technology.

    And I had to admit it had a point.
  • darkvad0r, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Hilarious (and truthful) insight on DRM technology, uh, sorry, CRAP technology :)
  • cleverboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I watched this video last week. It's interesting. I still think people should be clearer when they say "can't" with regards to any particular DRM though. They're not all created equal.

    No one should sue someone for making a personal copy of something they purchased. On the other side though, from a content producer perspective, the "right" for someone to buy something and transfer that content *everywhere* shouldn't put any onus on the producer to make it "easier" (why should I?) If they insitute DRM or they simply don't care, that's their choice. If I were to release a Palm-based eBook, and said "You can only use it on your Palm... that's why I'm pricing it this way.", that should be my right. My sales should indicate whether it makes sense to continue doing it. If someone does copy their copy to their Windows machine and print it out on paper... I shouldn't flip out either. They should be free to post tutorials on how to do it too. Laws shouldn't be against breaking DRM, but against "theft".

    The more I clamp down, the more I should get an avalanche of people telling me off, and refusing to buy my product. Legislating me into having no control over the stuff I'm choosing to sell is for the birds.
  • zoomie, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Or you could get mplayerplug-in for your linux box to play the Windows Media video
    http://mplayerplug-in.sourceforge.net
  • kaunglei, on 10/12/2007, -11/+19AWWWWSOMEEEE
  • macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8just waking up this morning, nice laugh - thanks

    thank goodness for gtkpod, it strips the crap from my ipod allowing me to use it with Linux

    gtkPod - "The CRAP peeler"
  • pezz453, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9It keeps you busy, and gives you a reason to complain about things. :P

    I use Debian as a secondary OS. It was primary for all of about 2 weeks
    until I started missing my games.

    This video is great. It's kind of silly that they wouldn't want you
    to distribute it alone. i.e. have a "download this video" link.
  • Splitt3rxx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9I probably would get an ipod if it wasn't protected by CRAP.from now on everyone should use CRAP in place of DRM.
  • Aooogah, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The same people who own the networks own the music. No network will ever air anything against DRM because of this.
  • jtizzle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7You actually have a point with the content vs. the player, but there are unique keys in the ipod that facilitate DRM, not necessarily implement it. Which is enough to piss this ZDnet guy off. And for the most part, I agree with everything he said.
  • xgravix, on 10/12/2007, -9/+15Seriously, don't mod this down. These are two of the worst video formats in existance. Highly ironic that ZDNet would choose to use heavily locked-down formats to decry DRM. =/
  • iigloo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Well, you don't have to stop buying iPods or other MP3 players. You just don't have to download music from the music stores which are full of DRM (crap).
    Download them for free somewhere else.
  • gamabunta, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7we should all refer to it as C.R.A.P from here on out.
  • pussyWagon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I was wondering if it was any type of message for the Franch law being imposed where all formats must be interoperable.
  • hiawy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6For those complaining about RealPlayer, just download real alternative (google it). It just has the codecs to play the video on your browser without the bloat that RealPlayer includes. There is also a quicktime alternative.
  • tavisjohn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Monthly Napster Subscription: $10.00
    Tunebite (With Keygen): Free
    Giving the FINGER to the music indusrty: Priceless!
  • sdo1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Here's the message I sent to whiteboard@zdnet.com...

    I agree with you completely on the evils of DRM. I've burned a couple of times and I'll never buy Digitally Restricted Media (my not-so-clever phrase for what the acronym DRM actually stands for) ever again.

    That said, your comments about the ipod are off the mark. I have an ipod and I have NO DRM issues with it. Why? I don't buy their C.R.A.P. from iTunes music store. I buy CDs and I rip them myself. No DRM. Or I buy music from emusic.com. No DRM. I play those files on my ipod (or on my laptop, or on my PC, or any of hundreds of
    commercially available mp3 players).

    So you should more accurately be bashing the proprietary link between iTunes Music Store and the ipod and not just he ipod itself. An ipod itself presents no DRM issues at all.
  • MegaMark, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6This guy deserves an award for calling out the big companies on their crap.
  • mardak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5By complaining about having to install extra software, you are supporting bundling. Bundling = evil.
  • ozgurgerilla, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5software standards should be implemented much better. companies shouldn't just care about profits.
  • acidzebra, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I like how if I want to watch the video I have to have real or WMP installed. Classy.
  • gerrynjr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4zdnet supports DRM in thier digital magazine format... this article means nothing...
  • matgorb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Nice to see something like that coming from ZDNet.
    On the Linux point, I do have RealPlayer, I had it on Fedora, I have it on Ubuntu, it is really easy to install if you can untar and run an executable, and it has nothing to do with the bloated windows version, it looks like like the mac os version, just simple, what it should be and works perfect. (now if the could only add a simple playlist function, it would be the perfect solution for Linux vendor since it is one of the only solution to play mp3 legally!)
    Real do some CRAP, that's for sure, but their Linux and Mac OS X player are not.
  • NicP, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5ipods play files without DRM just fine, MP3 AAC and Apple Lossless all play without this layer of "CRAP", its only if you buy from the itunes music store you get "CRAP". I thought the video should have been more clear on that point, however it was still awesome :D
  • meatbites, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Everything in this clip has been said before, but I suspect it would be ideal to show to your less geeky friends. Although distributing it might prove a challenge, considering irony took ZDNet for a ride, as the MMS protocol is a form of DRM for video. Not that it isn't hard to get around, mind you. :)

    sudo apt-get install mimms
    mimms mms://a999.v0674e.c674.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/999/674/3ccdde3f/cnetnews.download.akamai.com/674/5w0204crap_1_hi.asf
  • BlindIrishman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The point is, the majority of the public doesn't know that. Every one at my school uses itunes to get their music. None of them are smart enough to convert to mp3. They have thier public icons, the stand in their little "pods" listening to eachothers music, and giving money towards DRM.
  • kramer3d, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I did not know about this crap!! I can't believe it's true and all this time I didn't even realise it. :(
    His repition of crap really got to me
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I love it!!!!


    ~mario
  • zootm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I agree with the post above this - the technology itself is not necessarily the problem. Stopping buying iPods etc. doesn't send the message, buying *content* from unprotected vendors sends it. Especially since basically every player has some kind of DRM support, but it's possible to get non-DRMed content.

    Something containing *support* for something does not mean you have to use it.
  • LoveIsRegret, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3it goes beyond that, Starforce can cause a reboot if ANY content is copied, regardless if it implements Starforce on it's own, as to my understanding.
  • mlopes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"Uh, that video is crap. Players by Apple, Sony and others will play anything you put on them if it's unrestricted."

    Problem being that if CRAP/DRM actually succeeds, you won't have any content which isn't restricted!
  • timf, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6So to be able to watch a video that tells me about the dangers of software that restricts your usage of media files I need to ... use software from companys that built those systems.

    Additionally, only Real has a Linux version but it never worked for me.

    Way to go, ZDNet!
  • quadvods, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I would say that the content providers not the distributors are the ones forcing DRM more and more into products. That's why it shouldn't be 'don't buy an iPod' it should be.. 'don't download from itunes (or similar)'.. I can do whatever I want with the music I have, because I downloaded it without DRM.. 3 guesses from where.
  • TomP, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3That was a bloody good video! xD
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Go Berlind!!

    The world needs more people who tells it like it is.
  • coding, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Digg although I wish I could digg twice for the other videos on that site. They all made a lot of sense.
  • mentor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yeah, well, I can't believe that so many people use Windows, must really be a pain in the arse.
  • gordie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2How can the industry possibly think it will lessen piracy. If it really comes down to it a good quality capture of analog will be good enough. Early on I bought an MP3 player and subscribed to a service. When they started restricting content I unsubcribed. Now if I thought everyone would do that I would be selling my Apple stock tomorrow.
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