Comments on: Europe Wants To Force DRM Interoperability

By: Stefano Quintarelli

Stefano Quintarelli — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:06:13 +0000

DMIN.it is an effort led by Chiariglione, father and president of MPEG, MP3, etc.
I am one of the members of http://www.dmin.it/ (documents in english as well)

Personally, I like flat levys like the one proposed in Canada. http://blog.quintarelli.it/blo.....i-mus.html

But, in the 21st century, in a connected society, can’t we imagine something better than statistical samples to know how to redistribute the levy among authors ?

Well, DMIN is about DRM interoperability (and some level of guarantee of network neutrality and some level of micro-payments and a lot about disintermediation). DRM is not necessarily equivalent to TPM (Technical Protecion Measures. I can have a DRM that simply allows to measure popularity in a precise form, so to redistribute the Levy on a correct basis. (And with this respect, the most the work is diffused, the better).

One more point

As today, it’s impossible to build something based on other’s work because you don’t know who’s the right owner and when they do expire; there’s no longer a centralized DB of registered works. DRM can be a way to attach a licence to a single file, so to know who the right holder is and when they expire; a way to reestablish a DB, but a distributed one.

So anyone can know that my works are free for any use, provided there’s attribution.

DRM can be OK, it needs to be interoperable so that noone uses it to build monopolistic stances building on network effects. Give the authors the possibility to be correctly paid, directly by the consumer) and the assurance that no network can block/filter their content and you will have eliminated that part of the value chain that adds no value in the digital world. Shifting power to authors and enabling a reduction in prices (we all know just a few percent goes to authors today).

DRM can be OK, so you have RIGHTS attached to a file assuring who the rights holder is and when they expire. So you can build safely on existing works without risking to be blocked afterwards, when you’ve completed your work; giving you certaintay of the allowed fair uses as well (not depending on a judge interpretation and decision).

By: Gubatron

Gubatron — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:10:35 +0000

Its a good initiative, but the world changed in december and today, when the last 2 Mafia members announced they’d be dropping DRM.

iTunes: Get with the program
Microsoft: Get with the program

Just get rid of DRM instead of looking for DRM interoperability, the phrase “DRM interoperability” almost sounds as “half pregnant”.

You either protect your media with DRM or not.

By: Is DRM the enemy? « Webvideodude

Is DRM the enemy? « Webvideodude — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:41:34 +0000

[...] it is. Check out this article on TechCrunch with what our friends in Europe are attempting to do with the issue. Device lock in sucks for you, me and any other [...]

By: El Honathan

El Honathan — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:06:09 +0000

I would love to see EU succeed but this attempt stinks of being held up in red tape and of being unfeasible.

If it is the case as Ossi no#7 states - that it is about labelling and the article is misleading then really it is just a storm in a tea cup.

By: Gus

Gus — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:53:58 +0000

The EU’s bureaucratic meddling is the WORST not the best use for consumers. Let the market - via the consumer decide. The games, music and film industry is quite capable of developing strongly without a bunch of largely unelected committee-hoppers with little experience in the professional sector interfering.

By: Ossi

Ossi — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:48:40 +0000

In fact the EU is not planning to force DRM interoperability. If you read their plan (which is open for comments), they indicate that they are only planning to impose labelling requirements on those selling DRM content. The content will need to clearly state what interoperability and usage limitations apply. Thus the article is perhaps a bit misleading.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:41:35 +0000

This is definitely good news for EU consumers who do not pay attention to what they pay for when they buy DRM crippled music. A step in the right direction.

Simon: I doubt that they want to have a monopoly, that is exactly what they are trying to prevent. A market doesn’t equal “store”.

By: Jurado

Jurado — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:38:57 +0000

Does BMG or EMI Evil Music Industry send a ringtone! Call it the Pharma of the EU…..

By: Jacob

Jacob — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:03:09 +0000

More like a single closed standard.

I wish there was somebody like the EU in the U.S. We ain’t got no rights - everything is in favor of the record companies.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:58:14 +0000

“Looks like Europe is once again fighting closed standards and giving us consumers choice in how things are done”

Are you sure?

“Under the proposals, the EU would regulate the market by creating a single, European market for online music, films, and video games” sounds like they’re trying to create one single store that we all have to go to…

By: TechnoQ

TechnoQ — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:46:00 +0000

What’s going on!!!

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:24:36 +0000

Looks like Europe is once again fighting closed standards and giving us consumers choice in how things are done This is great news!

Jon