[mythtv-users] Their Baaaacccckkk!

[Brad DerManouelian]

On Feb 10, 2006, at 4:24 PM, Greg Woods wrote:

> The problem with the broadcast flag and all other DRM measures is that
> it is, quite simply, bad security. Those of us who do security for a
> living (computer security in the case of a lot of us on this list)  
> know
> that the best security measures are those that cause a minimum  
> amount of
> inconvenience to legitimate users while creating the greatest barriers
> to unauthorized users. DRM is exactly the opposite. The people who  
> make
> a lot of money selling pirated copies of movies, TV shows, and  
> software,
> will be able to find ways around DRM. DRM will interfere mostly with
> legitimate users trying to make fair use of content they have legally
> paid for. DRM is just plain bad security. It also costs them sales. I
> would never buy a song from the Apple music store, for instance,  
> because
> they give it to me in a way that I can't use it in my home music  
> system.
> It's worthless to me, so they have lost a lot of sales.

Lost some sales, yes.. but made nearly a billion. I agree that  
consumers shouldn't be assumed criminals, but the masses have spoken.  
They are willing to make concessions in return for quick/easy purchases.

> I know I am preaching to the choir with this audience, but the  
> reason I
> say this is that this is a better argument to make with people who are
> not already convinced, than the usual ones I hear about evil greedy
> money-grubbing corporations, information wants to be free, and so  
> forth.
> You aren't going to convince anyone (including your congresscritter)
> with that kind of argument. Much better to simply point out that these
> measures won't stop the real crooks but will be a pain for the
> legitimate consumer.
>
> --Greg