sidz used our news submit to tell us that a former Apple executive is voicing strong opposition to the next gen formats, due to planned changes in copy controls. With the advent of new sophisticated Digital Rights Management, he says the concept of fair use is going to go by the wayside. Therefore, he has decided to ask for funding to help organize a boycott.
|
He has set up a dedicated site on his writersblocklive weblog calling for the boycott and is seeking donations to help launch a Google advertising campaign to promote the cause. The boycott targets the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) technology finalised last month for pre-recorded and recordable optical media by an alliance that includes IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Sony, Toshiba, The Walt Disney company and Warner Bros Studios. Mr Evangelist writes: "Under pressure from Hollywood, they are engineering a complete removal of the concept of fair use. They are setting up systems that will completely control how, when and where you can use content that you buy. Even worse, they can retroactively change the rules." |
He goes on to say what most readers here already know, or at least can suspect; That the content providers are merely using the piracy issue as a smokescreen in order to create and implement newer, more sophisticated controls. To say this man is bitter is an understatement, when we read this quote: "Throughout my life I have embraced just about every new format that comes along, but when it comes to HD-DVD I'm done,"
If you are a believer in fair use rights, this campaign might be worth investing in. It is critical to get the word out to the public, so that they can make an informed decision about blue laser products, especially those saddled with AACS. An Internet Google advertisement could be
quite effective in this respect. Even if this is not what the corporations and
Hollywood have in mind, there is no harm in a public awareness campaign!
Source: The Age
