So far, we've been discussing the nefarious and confusing ways of U.S. DRM policy. Conclusion: it sucks. It goes above and beyond the restrictions of copyright, and tends towards criminalizing users (see the guy who uploaded the DRM-breaking LOLcat) rather than offering options and solutions on how to access digital media in a legal manner. As we become less interested in external, physical media materials - DVDs and audio discs - and more interested in compounding as much information as we can into a single source, DRM restrictions make less and less sense. If the user does not intend to sell the material, then what's the point of stopping them from putting it on their computer for personal, private use?
This TorrentFreak article not only highlights the most basic issues DRM creates for the user - contradictory restrictions - but also demonstrates how DRM works outside of the U.S. Conclusion: it sucks just as much.
According to Danish DRM policy, it is legal for a user to download media, like movies and television shows, for private use. At the same time, it is illegal for a user to remove the DRM restriction that inhibits the transfer of data from media file (DVD, CD) to computer. That makes it both legal and illegal, simultaneously, to download: you can, but you can't. In order to force the Ministry of Culture to reexamine this law, Henrik Anderson of Denmark has reported himself to an anti-piracy group, and to the police, for removing DRM restrictions in order to download media, and thus breaching copyright. He wants to be arrested.
Anderson's actions are brave, and could prove incredibly potent. His trial would force the Danish government to examine the problematic paradox DRM policy creates for the casual user, and could result in a complete reworking of the policy altogether. Moreover, his trial could mean a reexamination and re-writing of copyright policy across the globe, setting precedent for the scope of digital copyright law world-wide.
Either way, it's time for everyone to admit that DRM just doesn't work, and that a serious change is more than overdue. We can only hope that the Danish legal system is up to Anderson's challenge, and won't downplay the issue by slapping him with a fine and closing the books on DRM, once again.
On a lighter (and unrelated note), here's an excellent example of
fair use.
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