UK Group Proposes DRM Labeling

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UK Group Proposes DRM Labeling

Jill

Mon Jun 05 22:48:40 -0700 2006

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UK-based All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) is calling for labels on digital media that tell consumers at the point of purchase what they will and will not be able to do with digital content that they buy. Further the report says that manufacturers should state risks when "systems are discontinued, or devices fail, or players are replaced by systems from a different manufacturer."

The APIG says they exist to provide a discussion forum between new media industries and parliamentarians and considers Internet issues that affect society, making recommendations.
The complete report is available here (pdf).

UK Group Proposes DRM Labeling

farnz

Tue Jun 06 01:14:52 -0700 2006
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Having read the report, it's a very nice piece of work; neither pro-DRM or anti-DRM sides get what they want, and the suggested compulsory labelling is likely to upset previously happy consumers who were unaware of the effects of DRM.
How many people are going to be as enthusiastic about buying an iPod plus music from the iTunes Music Store when they're presented with a compulsory label containing details of what Apple's DRM does and does not allow, the warning that your rights could be curtailed by Apple at any time, the statement that you will not be able to play your ITMS music on any player other than the iPod and other Apple-licenced players, and a warning that if Apple goes out of business, things like transferring the music to a new PC or MP3 player will not be possible?

UK Group Proposes DRM Labeling

Clay Barnes

Tue Jun 06 09:19:26 -0700 2006
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I like the suggestion in your second paragraph. Consumers *should* be worried. They *should not* accept terms of use with the clause "we reserve the right to change anything and everything about your rights at any time for any reason." Common convention or not, it's simply not fair. And if awareness of the terms of use for media they purchase pisses off consumers---*great!* They should have been pissed from the beginning. Too many people are too often oblivious of their rights and restrictions. Bringing that to the attention of the public might do a lot of good. Here's to hoping, eh?

UK Group Proposes DRM Labeling

vipermd

Wed Jun 07 23:00:53 -0700 2006
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This is another example of "CONTROL"! You can put any word in front of it and it still means the same! We are creating a world of "SHEEP".

UK Group Proposes DRM Labeling

Eddie Humphreys

Wed Sep 20 15:28:17 -0700 2006
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Well I just purchased my first music track online from MSN music today.

AND it will be my last.

I bought a track as a gift for my sister to have on her music player built into her mobile. It can take WMA files, recognises them, but refuses to play them.

No problem, convert to MP3, NOPE. DRM stops this. I now have a piece of music that can only be played on a "specified device" or on a computer.

In my opinion this is an unfair contract under UK consumer law, as they are restricting what I can do with my legally purchased product. The only copy of this music will be on my sisters mobile phone, no piracy, just a consumer wanting to listen to music. It's not fit for purpose.

There is a warning on the page I discovered when I went back to the site, but it is right at the bottom of a list of ever increaseing prices. Why would I go down the page when the option I want is at the top and the way that it is laid out just looks like a menu of prices.

Rant over