While this article is related to Microsoft's suit against Viodentia, it is also slightly different, accurately assessing the limitations and reasons why DRM should be stamped out. This is what the
author of the article highlights; why DRM tramples consumer rights and why
cracking DRM should not be considered wrong:
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As the article correctly indicates, by using DRM, gone are the days someone can take a cassette or CD and play it in either one's computer, stereo or car stereo. Now, while you can use a 'portable' device to listen to your files, you are not allowed to transfer it to another; this leads to the 'double whammy': if your device bites the dust, then you lose not only your songs on it, but the money tied to both! If you have DRM-loaded music files on your computer and either a virus zaps your hard drive or the HDD croaks…same problem!
The only point that should matter is this: did the consumer pay for it? The other issue of a capitalistic, free-market system is the ability to freely decide what one desires to purchase at any time. With the current state of the question, one can make the initial choice, but one cannot change one's mind without being billed double for what should be a one-time purchase price. Given the fact Scandinavian governments should now be involved in talks with Apple over such consumer rights, and given the fact the E.U. has taken a rather narrow view of Microsoft's business practices, there is the potential to stop DRM in its tracks if the respective legislators in each country listen to their constituents and act together to halt DRM use. Perhaps Microsoft's case against Viodentia for
cracking DRM will be the catalyst to begin a domino effect to lead to honoring
fair use and to restoring consumer choice.
Source: iTWire
