Quote:
Originally Posted by Moejoe
EDIT: and if you can make a rational case for DRM of any kind, then I'm all ears, because you'll be the first in history to actually make that argument work  |
Can you get free electronic library ebook services with *current* content without DRM of one kind or another? On the music side, the "all-you-can-eat" services wouldn't exist without DRM.
DRM is a technology.
Neither good nor bad.
There are good uses for DRM and bad uses for DRM; which is which is in the eye of the beholder and their specific prejudices.
You are, however, mostly right on the cultural thing.
But even there the transatlantic rift is misrepresented; on the euro side the argument is about money and power: "americans tolerate corporate abuses".
On this side of the pond we see it as a personal responsibility issue: "children need protecting, adults should be able to take care of themselves and their own".
You won't see many libertarians in France, I'm pretty sure.
Personal freedom over all, equality be damned. :-)
Notice the american revolution was about freedom, the french about equality.
No need to get excited about either approach. When the asteroid hits we'll all fry equally.
Basically, if B&N want to DRM PD texts the law says they can and if they want to be money grubbing whores they can. Not against the laws of nature or physics to make a buck...
Me?
Nobody forces me to buy from them so I literally couldn't care less what they do or don't do; its their business, they can run it into the ground on their own. Either there are enough fools to keep them in business or there aren't.
Odds are there aren't and they'll serve as an object lesson for the market.