MPs call for clarity over consumer DRM rights - Club CDFreaks

*JayC30* · 07-06-2006

Quote:

Consumers must be given clear information on exactly what they can and can't do with music and movies purchased online.

This is the view of the All-Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG), a group of MPs who have been looking at the issue of copyright protection - or digital rights management (DRM).

APIG said the Office of Fair Trading should introduce labelling regulations. It said these should clearly spell out any restrictions consumers may face.

The report comes after APIG held a public enquiry into the problems both consumers and copyright holders face concerning DRM. It sought views from industry groups, consumers and media makers.

It acknowledged that generally, British consumers don't know that under British copyright law there is no such thing as fair use. This means when someone buys a CD, they are infringing copyright even by recording it to their computer or portable music player.

A YouGov survey for the National Consumer Council this year found just 19 per cent of people were aware of this fact. It found that 55 per cent of consumers copy their CDs to other devices, with three in five Britons thinking that copying for personal use is legal.

Other countries – including the US and most of the EU – provide a right to reproduce copyrighted material for private use. The consumer group wants to see a fair use clause inserted in the country's "absurd" copyright laws.

APIG said that companies that used aggressive DRM systems should realise they "run a significant risk of being prosecuted for criminal actions" for potentially breaking the Computer Misuse and the Data Protection acts.

This warning followed the disastrous attempt by Sony BMG to introduce a form of DRM onto its CDs sold in the US that potentially left users PCs at risk from hackers. Sony eventually had to settle the matter in court with disgruntled US consumers.

The MPs are also unhappy with the pricing of digital media. They have called on the Department of Trade and Industry to look into the prices charged for the same digital content, such as music tracks, in different countries.

For example, in the UK consumers can pay significantly more for songs from Apple's iTunes store than customers in mainland Europe. "This is somewhat at odds with the notion of the 'single market'," noted the report.

The report has generally been welcomed by consumer organisations. However, the Open Rights Group cautioned that there is still more that could be done. It said APIG had "missed an opportunity to look more closely at interoperability and open standards for digital content and the hardware that content is played on".

http://www.computeractive.co.uk/comp...ers-report-drm

I realy hope this is taken up and finally we can actual make a back up or transfer music to MP3 players etc without breaking the law, in the UK. It my also help judging by it if the recommendations about the cost of music services is delt with too for those that use hem.

*pipemanid* · 07-06-2006

I wouldn't get too excited about the possibility of a change in copyright and DRM policies which would benefit the consumer...
If anything, they will become more restrictive...

They couldn't fix my brakes, so they made my horn louder. /.

*JayC30* · 07-06-2006

Someone is a pessamist. Fortunately consumer protection is quite strong here, even after warranty has run out we have upto 6 years of protection if an inherant fault is found in an item after the year is up, amongst other things including descriptions. We may just get lucky and have the right to back up, which would be good, at the moment even though it is illegal it is tolerated.

I have used it against a number of major stores, I just have to say "under the consumer protection act....." and it's "sorry my mistake".

*pipemanid* · 07-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayC30

Someone is a PESSIMIST...

nope...just a realist...

Did you know that you can be apathetic to apathy? Not that I give a shit... /.

*JayC30* · 07-06-2006

Hey I am one too, that way all I get is good news.

*pipemanid* · 07-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayC30

Hey I am one too, that way all I get is good news.

What brand of sunglasses do you wear to get around that darn paisley sky in your world?

So Buddha walks into a pizza parlor and says: "Hey, make me one with everything."

*debro* · 11-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by pipemanid

nope...just a realist...

Was thinking the same thing

*pipemanid* · 11-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by debro

Was thinking the same thing

See a specialist quick...

*debro* · 11-06-2006

I dunno ... shrinks look loonier than their patients. I suppose there's no-one better to help than someone with lots of experience

07-06-2006	#2 (permalink)
pipemanid CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In The Mountains Posts: 1,649	Re: MPs call for clarity over consumer DRM rights I wouldn't get too excited about the possibility of a change in copyright and DRM policies which would benefit the consumer... If anything, they will become more restrictive... They couldn't fix my brakes, so they made my horn louder. /. __________________ Main System Intel D865GBF P4 3.2E 4GB DDR400 2x Maxtor 250GB BenQ 1650 BenQ 1620 Matrox P650 InWin Q500/Antec True550 Dual 19"LCD Backup System Intel D865GLC P4 3.0E 4GB DDR400 2x Maxtor 250GB BenQ 1620 BenQ 1650 Matrox P650 InWin Q500/Antec True550 Dual 17"LCD Workhorse System SuperMicro P6DBS P3 850MHz x 2 1GB SDRAM 4x Seagate UW 9.1GB LiteOn 1633S Pioneer A-305S Matrox G450 InWin Q500/PC Power & Cooling 510 ATX Dual 15"LCD Play System AOpen AX4SG P4 2.8E 2GB DDR400 2x Maxtor 160GB BenQ 1620 BenQ 822A Matrox G550 Antec CS600/Antec True550 Dual 17"LCD Server/Firewall Biostar P4TDK P4 2.4GHz 2GB DDR400 2x Seagate 160GB BenQ 1620 LiteOn SOHD 167T Matrox G450 Antec CS600/Antec True550 19" CRT All Computers Use TB SantaCruz Sound Cards & RealMagic Hollywood+ DVD Decoder cards

07-06-2006	#3 (permalink)
JayC30 CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,140	Re: MPs call for clarity over consumer DRM rights Someone is a pessamist. Fortunately consumer protection is quite strong here, even after warranty has run out we have upto 6 years of protection if an inherant fault is found in an item after the year is up, amongst other things including descriptions. We may just get lucky and have the right to back up, which would be good, at the moment even though it is illegal it is tolerated. I have used it against a number of major stores, I just have to say "under the consumer protection act....." and it's "sorry my mistake". __________________ "I'm only happy when it rains, I feel good when things are going wrong, I only listen to the sad, sad songs, I'm only happy when it rains" (Garbage-"I'm Only Happy When It Rains")

07-06-2006	#5 (permalink)
JayC30 CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,140	Re: MPs call for clarity over consumer DRM rights Hey I am one too, that way all I get is good news. __________________ "I'm only happy when it rains, I feel good when things are going wrong, I only listen to the sad, sad songs, I'm only happy when it rains" (Garbage-"I'm Only Happy When It Rains")

11-06-2006	#9 (permalink)
debro Blown to smitherines Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: The c@ke mixer Posts: 9,975	Re: MPs call for clarity over consumer DRM rights I dunno ... shrinks look loonier than their patients. I suppose there's no-one better to help than someone with lots of experience __________________ CDFreaks - Overwhelmed by Ignorance since 2005! We lost the battle, but we haven't lost the war! Click Here to sign up to the resistance movement! Viva La Resistance! Admitting that you've illegally downloaded movies/songs and need help to process/burn is comparable to robbing a bank, and walking into the bank the next day holding the bags of money to deposit them into your account. Don't be surprised if people laugh at you when you make the headlines.

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