4 ms·

Cory Doctorow Rejoins EFF to Eradicate DRM Everywhere

86 points by sinak 12y ago

patrickod 12y ago
I'd recommend Cory's latest book: "Information doesn't want to be free" where he addresses the problems presented by DRM and other copyright issues. It's a short read but hugely valuable for folks creating digital content. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R4ZJTMO?btkr=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R4ZJTMO?btkr=1
- K_REY_C 12y ago
  The book is recommended (and the print version is surprisingly attractive). It may be somewhat disappointing if you've been following Cory for a while though as the book doesn't really tread any new ground from his previous works, speeches, etc. That said, he seems to be trying to hit a different audience with this book and his message is communicated simply enough to make an impact. It seems that hitting a broader audience would be a core mission of this "1201" project with the EFF.
  - famousactress 12y ago
    I agree, but would put a more positive spin. The book didn't break open for me any new ideas about the topics that Cory's been super eloquent on in the past... but it was marvelous in it's simplicity and encapsulation of concepts. I felt better for reading it, if only because it provides new ways of communicating these arguments to others.
    - K_REY_C 12y ago
      The positive spin is more fair and accurate. I didn't intent to come off so negative. Part of the reason I've kept reading and listening to Cory is because, as you note, he provides new ways of communicating arguments and it was interesting to see him work to direct this at a broad audience at the same time. For example, at the end of a long section talking about the fluidity between the roles of creator, investor, intermediaries, and audiences in the introduction he closes with: "...and some of the most dedicated audiences are made up of creators themselves (which is why authors are usually photographed standing in front of a wall of other people's books.)" It's not fully represented in this quote, but when you read that closing line it instantaneously becomes obvious how blurry the lines have always been and how silly many of the distinctions truly are. We're talking about something bigger.
- wazoox 12y ago
  For those preferring fiction, "Pirate Cinema" is both an exciting adventure and a pamphlet against DRM.
FrankenPC 12y ago
I love Doctorow. Great work sir.
click170 12y ago
DRM isn't inherently bad, it's just that it's most common usage today is in controls that deprive me of my rights. What about scenarios such as if I where to use DRM in the kernels on my systems to restrict the loading of modules that I have not signed? What if instead of abolishing DRM, we advocated to change the laws to require that any consumer who wishes to control the keys to their own property must be given said keys, because this allows people like my parents and grandmother to relinquish the controls that they aren't interested in to people they trust.
- throwawaymaroon 12y ago
  DRM is inherently bad, because there is no such thing as perfect DRM and whenever you construct an argument for DRM you have to add the sort of "it's just that"s you've just written. If you are given content to play, you should be given it in a 'perfect' format. Anything else is idiocy, because at some point it'll be played in that format anyway.
  - fubarred 12y ago
    From considering the demand-side point-of-view only, I would tend to agree. It gives content distributors a false sense of control at the expense of complicating the average customers' lives. ("Penny-wise, pound-foolish" like a neighborhood coffee shop that requires a key to use the restroom and doesn't put out napkins whereas the Starbucks next door making far more money does neither.) From the supply-side point-of-view (film maker, movie theater, on-demand service), it depends. Artists can choose to release for free like The Beastie Boys are other doing, knowing enough people will still buy the retail package to keep them afloat. But to see your blood, sweat and tears shared without people paying a dime, might be tough. It's further complicated because you don't want to tick off freeloaders that can be converted to customers or whom happen to be major customers in same-brand products/services. Both taken together, it's becomes a self-selecting, personal choice to vote with one's wallet.
    - famousactress 12y ago
      Cory's book is written specifically for the content creators (slash distributors), not the demand side. He handily makes the argument that DRM is an inherently and objectively Bad Thing for them, bar none. The problem is you're presenting a false choice "Release for free, or release with DRM and get paid". In truth, that's not quite what happens. Instead DRM hurts sales, and lack of DRM helps (or at least doesn't hurt) them... and I'd challenge you to find any time-tested evidence to the contrary.
bobajeff 12y ago
I,ll rooting for this initiative. I used to take for granted that I'd own the things I buy. But it seems that every year that goes by I'm having less and less ownership of my possessions.

86 points by sinak 12y ago

I'd recommend Cory's latest book: "Information doesn't want to be free" where he addresses the problems presented by DRM and other copyright issues. It's a short read but hugely valuable for folks creating digital content. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R4ZJTMO?btkr=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R4ZJTMO?btkr=1

K_REY_C 12y ago
The book is recommended (and the print version is surprisingly attractive). It may be somewhat disappointing if you've been following Cory for a while though as the book doesn't really tread any new ground from his previous works, speeches, etc. That said, he seems to be trying to hit a different audience with this book and his message is communicated simply enough to make an impact. It seems that hitting a broader audience would be a core mission of this "1201" project with the EFF.
- famousactress 12y ago
  I agree, but would put a more positive spin. The book didn't break open for me any new ideas about the topics that Cory's been super eloquent on in the past... but it was marvelous in it's simplicity and encapsulation of concepts. I felt better for reading it, if only because it provides new ways of communicating these arguments to others.
  - K_REY_C 12y ago
    The positive spin is more fair and accurate. I didn't intent to come off so negative. Part of the reason I've kept reading and listening to Cory is because, as you note, he provides new ways of communicating arguments and it was interesting to see him work to direct this at a broad audience at the same time. For example, at the end of a long section talking about the fluidity between the roles of creator, investor, intermediaries, and audiences in the introduction he closes with: "...and some of the most dedicated audiences are made up of creators themselves (which is why authors are usually photographed standing in front of a wall of other people's books.)" It's not fully represented in this quote, but when you read that closing line it instantaneously becomes obvious how blurry the lines have always been and how silly many of the distinctions truly are. We're talking about something bigger.
wazoox 12y ago
For those preferring fiction, "Pirate Cinema" is both an exciting adventure and a pamphlet against DRM.

FrankenPC 12y ago

I love Doctorow. Great work sir.

click170 12y ago

DRM isn't inherently bad, it's just that it's most common usage today is in controls that deprive me of my rights. What about scenarios such as if I where to use DRM in the kernels on my systems to restrict the loading of modules that I have not signed? What if instead of abolishing DRM, we advocated to change the laws to require that any consumer who wishes to control the keys to their own property must be given said keys, because this allows people like my parents and grandmother to relinquish the controls that they aren't interested in to people they trust.

throwawaymaroon 12y ago
DRM is inherently bad, because there is no such thing as perfect DRM and whenever you construct an argument for DRM you have to add the sort of "it's just that"s you've just written. If you are given content to play, you should be given it in a 'perfect' format. Anything else is idiocy, because at some point it'll be played in that format anyway.
- fubarred 12y ago
  From considering the demand-side point-of-view only, I would tend to agree. It gives content distributors a false sense of control at the expense of complicating the average customers' lives. ("Penny-wise, pound-foolish" like a neighborhood coffee shop that requires a key to use the restroom and doesn't put out napkins whereas the Starbucks next door making far more money does neither.) From the supply-side point-of-view (film maker, movie theater, on-demand service), it depends. Artists can choose to release for free like The Beastie Boys are other doing, knowing enough people will still buy the retail package to keep them afloat. But to see your blood, sweat and tears shared without people paying a dime, might be tough. It's further complicated because you don't want to tick off freeloaders that can be converted to customers or whom happen to be major customers in same-brand products/services. Both taken together, it's becomes a self-selecting, personal choice to vote with one's wallet.
  - famousactress 12y ago
    Cory's book is written specifically for the content creators (slash distributors), not the demand side. He handily makes the argument that DRM is an inherently and objectively Bad Thing for them, bar none. The problem is you're presenting a false choice "Release for free, or release with DRM and get paid". In truth, that's not quite what happens. Instead DRM hurts sales, and lack of DRM helps (or at least doesn't hurt) them... and I'd challenge you to find any time-tested evidence to the contrary.

bobajeff 12y ago

I,ll rooting for this initiative. I used to take for granted that I'd own the things I buy. But it seems that every year that goes by I'm having less and less ownership of my possessions.