UK watchdogs has realised what we have known for years

Omega X · 16th January 2006, 17:43

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Fears raised over digital rights
CD being placed in PC drive, BBC
Consumers are being frustrated by digital locks on music and movies
A UK consumer watchdog has called for new laws to protect users' rights to use digital music and movies.

The National Consumer Council (NCC) said anti-piracy efforts were eroding established rights to digital media.

The NCC had little faith that industry self-regulation would adequately protect consumers' rights.

It made its comments to a parliamentary inquiry into technologies that limit what people can do with CDs, DVDs and downloaded media.

No faith

In its submission to the inquiry, the NCC said many consumers were regularly running up against the restrictions record companies and film makers put on their products.

Consumers face security risks to their equipment, limitations on their use of products, poor information when purchasing products and unfair contract terms
Jill Johnstone, NCC

Digital music: Ask the industry
The consumer group said people were finding that they could not make compilations for their own use or easily move digital copies between different devices.

In its statement to the inquiry it said the digital locks put on content were "constraining the legitimate consumer use of digital content".

Also being undermined were rights established by consumer protection and data protection laws, it said.

"Consumers face security risks to their equipment, limitations on their use of products, poor information when purchasing products and unfair contract terms," said Jill Johnstone, the NCC's director of policy.

She added that the group had little faith that self-regulation by media makers would protect consumer rights.

Sony woes

As a case in point, the NCC referred to the furore over the methods Sony BMG used to stop some of its CDs being copied.

The music maker suffered a long bout of bad publicity following the discovery that its anti-piracy system used virus-like techniques to hide itself.

The row led to Sony BMG being sued by many consumers and many US states. Eventually Sony recalled the CDs using the most controversial anti-piracy software and offer refunds to consumers who suffered.

It has also stopped using some copy protection systems following the row.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4617176.stm
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So...um...basically they have found out what has been going on for years now.

JFASI · 16th January 2006, 20:23

No Shmidt, Sherlock.

rockouthippie · 17th January 2006, 00:51

Is it going to be Europe that saves the american consumer?.

Not if france is an indication.

zootm · 17th January 2006, 11:10

France's recent craziness has brought the issue forward in terms of exposure, if nothing else. They've managed to propose two incredibly silly "solutions" though.

Watchdogs reporting this sort of thing is important because it carries a hell of a lot more credence that hordes of geeks who probably have a vested interest (right or not).

16th January 2006, 17:43	#1
Omega X Forum King Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: A Parallel Dimension Posts: 2,233	UK watchdogs has realised what we have known for years -------------------- ----------- Fears raised over digital rights CD being placed in PC drive, BBC Consumers are being frustrated by digital locks on music and movies A UK consumer watchdog has called for new laws to protect users' rights to use digital music and movies. The National Consumer Council (NCC) said anti-piracy efforts were eroding established rights to digital media. The NCC had little faith that industry self-regulation would adequately protect consumers' rights. It made its comments to a parliamentary inquiry into technologies that limit what people can do with CDs, DVDs and downloaded media. No faith In its submission to the inquiry, the NCC said many consumers were regularly running up against the restrictions record companies and film makers put on their products. Consumers face security risks to their equipment, limitations on their use of products, poor information when purchasing products and unfair contract terms Jill Johnstone, NCC Digital music: Ask the industry The consumer group said people were finding that they could not make compilations for their own use or easily move digital copies between different devices. In its statement to the inquiry it said the digital locks put on content were "constraining the legitimate consumer use of digital content". Also being undermined were rights established by consumer protection and data protection laws, it said. "Consumers face security risks to their equipment, limitations on their use of products, poor information when purchasing products and unfair contract terms," said Jill Johnstone, the NCC's director of policy. She added that the group had little faith that self-regulation by media makers would protect consumer rights. Sony woes As a case in point, the NCC referred to the furore over the methods Sony BMG used to stop some of its CDs being copied. The music maker suffered a long bout of bad publicity following the discovery that its anti-piracy system used virus-like techniques to hide itself. The row led to Sony BMG being sued by many consumers and many US states. Eventually Sony recalled the CDs using the most controversial anti-piracy software and offer refunds to consumers who suffered. It has also stopped using some copy protection systems following the row. ------------------- ------------------------------ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4617176.stm ------------------------- -------------- So...um...basically they have found out what has been going on for years now. Webmaster @Order Of The Mists [OOM]

16th January 2006, 20:23	#2
JFASI Major Dude Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I was hoping you could tell me Posts: 1,350	No Shmidt, Sherlock. Certified Spam Connoisseur.

17th January 2006, 00:51	#3
rockouthippie Forum King Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 10,586	Is it going to be Europe that saves the american consumer?. Not if france is an indication. Global Movies and TV God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to hide the bodies of people who pissed me off.

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17th January 2006, 11:10	#4
zootm Forum King Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: the nether reaches of bonnie scotland Posts: 13,378	France's recent craziness has brought the issue forward in terms of exposure, if nothing else. They've managed to propose two incredibly silly "solutions" though. Watchdogs reporting this sort of thing is important because it carries a hell of a lot more credence that hordes of geeks who probably have a vested interest (right or not).