[FSFE PR][EN] DRM.info: Informing about the dangers of controlling private media use

[Joachim Jakobs]

DRM.info: Informing about the dangers of controlling private media use

Early this morning, a group of contributing organisations and authors
launched DRM.info, [1] a collaborative information platform about the
potential dangers of Digital Restriction Management (DRM) initiated by
the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE).

"'Your devices don't trust you!' is the basic message of DRM. In fact
they trust you so little that they will not even tell you that they
put you under surveillance," says Joachim Jakobs, FSFE's media
coordinator. "The SONY rootkit case has shown that software was
secretly installed without the users consent, reported back to SONY,
and even damaged the Windows installation when being removed." [2]

Given the political implications of putting the owners of computers,
media players, mobile phones and other devices under the control of
the vendors of the devices, it is no wonder people would prefer if
noone knew of DRM: A Disney executive told the 'Economist' [3] one
year ago: "If consumers even know there's a DRM, what it is, and how
it works, we've already failed."

In contrast, DRM.info is based on the idea that people should be
informed and involved in decisions that will affect them on a very
personal level.

"DRM technologies are based on the principle that a third party has
more influence over your devices than you, and that their interests
will override yours when they come in conflict. That is even true
where your interest is perfectly legitimate and legal, and possibly
also for your own data," explains Georg Greve, FSFE's president.

Libraries are also concerned about the impact of DRM on their ability to
  preserve our cultural heritage, to provide future access to public
domain material and to exercise user priviledges under copyright law.
"Libraries see DRM as a threat to our activities because it can
undermine or even prevent legitimate access to and use of digital
content", said Teresa Hackett, eIFL.net. "We welcome DRM.info as a
platform for public debate on these important issues for society".

Georg Greve finishes: "DRM.info is about to end the silence on DRM and
you can help us with that task: Download a DRM.info web button today
and link to it." [4]

[1] http://drm.info
[2] http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/11/sonys_drm_rootk.html
[3] http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4342418
[4] http://drm.info/artworks/drm-button


About DRM.info

  DRM.info is a collaboration between several independent
  organisations and individuals. The views expressed reflect those of
  the organisation in question and, unless otherwise stated, are not
  made on behalf of the other contributors. All the contributors have
  a shared concern about the lack of an informed social debate on
  issues surrounding DRM technologies.

  Contributors:

    Consumer Project on Technology (CPTech)
    Electronic Frontier Finland (EFFI)
    Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net)
    Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)
    iCommons (iCommons)
    International Federation of Library Associations and
    Institutions (IFLA)
    netzpolitik.org (netzpolitik.org)

  and independent author Cory Doctorow.

  DRM.info media partners:

    Linux Magazine Brasil, Brazil
    Linux Magazine Espana, Spain
    PC World.cz, Czech

   Punto Informatico, Italy:
   "DRM is a crucial issue when we look at the effects of those
   technologies on innovation and freedom of access. Punto Informatico
   believes that any such issue as DRM, which is already producing an
   outstanding impact on the development of the Information Society,
   must be put on the table of a large and partecipated debate. Our
   mission after more than ten years is still to contribute to inform
   Italian Internet users about the chances each one of us has in
   order to play a role in the shaping of our digital future"
   Paolo De Andreis, Punto Informatico main editor


    VNU Business Publications Deutschland, Germany
    "VNU germany is going to join the DRM info-campaign as we have
    experienced in the past and strongly believe that DRM is not adding value
    to our business, benefitting our customers or creating new opportunities
    on the marketplace."
    Christian Miessner, Associate Publisher Online

About the Free Software Foundation Europe:

   The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a charitable
   non-governmental organisation dedicated to all aspects of Free
   Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may
   participate in a digital society. Therefore the Freedoms to use,
   copy, modify and redistribute software - as described in the Free
   Software definition- allow equal participation in the information
   age. Creating awareness for these issues, securing Free Software
   politically and legally, and giving people Freedom by supporting
   development of Free Software are central issues of the FSFE.  The
   FSFE was founded in 2001 as the European sister organisation of the
   Free Software Foundation in the United States.

   Further information: http://fsfeurope.org

-- 
Joachim Jakobs <jj at office.fsfeurope.org
Media Relations - FSF Europe (http://fsfeurope.org)
Tel: +49 700 - 373387673, Ext.: 404
Mobile: +49-179-6919565