EFF: A broadcast flag update [LWN.net]

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 27, 2005 21:27 UTC (Tue) by euvitudo (subscriber, #98)
In reply to: EFF: A broadcast flag update by ncm
Parent article: EFF: A broadcast flag update

Sure... just because everyone else seems to vote for "that other presidential candidate" tells me that my vote is pointless, and I should just NOT vote.

<sarcasm>That makes a lot of sense!</sarcasm>

If I don't want to support the industry, I'll quit giving them my hard earned cash. Furthermore, I'll stay away from illegal sharing because I *don't* want to give them a reason to gain more power. It's that simple.

I will also tell everyone else how I feel, and what I've done in response... you know... spread the word? How did Linux spread? How did FOSS spread? Certainly not on the backs of corporate slugs or their spineless politicians.

What I am trying to say is as follows: If you really feel emotional about it, quit complaining and start doing something about it.

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EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 28, 2005 5:20 UTC (Wed) by njhurst (guest, #6022) [Link]

That's unfair, as the very act of posting here indicates that they are doing something about it. The problem is that for every ideologically driven person there are thousands who quickly give up freedoms for a little short term gain (for example, almost all of my work place has switched from linux/unix to macosx; despite having claimed in the past that they don't like windows for reasons of freedom). You not spending $10 on a DRM DVD will have as much effect on the progress of DRM as King Canute on the tide.

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 28, 2005 7:02 UTC (Wed) by euvitudo (subscriber, #98) [Link]

That's unfair, as the very act of posting here indicates that they are doing something about it.

Really? Posting a comment doesn't mean that you are doing anything about it. However, I'll admit that I do not know whether the previous poster has done/is doing anything about it.

You not spending $10 on a DRM DVD will have as much effect on the progress of DRM as King Canute on the tide.

You are merely reaffirming my statement, to which I firmly hold. I also do my best, given the time I have, by advocating an exercise of freedom by not funding the media giants. Sure, $10 here or there doesn't make much difference. But when 1000 people agree and make the choice, then that turns out to be $10000. If 10000 decide to agree and make the choice, then that's $100000. Surely most people spend much more than $10 per year on their beloved media (remember we are discussing the broadcast flag for digital TV/Radio). If only 1000 average people decide and make the choice to no longer fund media companies, and assuming that these people pay $1320 per year to media companies (~$50/mo for Digital Cable/Satellite; ~$30/mo on DVDs; and ~$30/mo on music; pulled these out of a hat), then that's $1.32Million that they did not pay to the media companies. Convince 1e5 people, that's $132Million.

Surely there are more than 1e5 FOSS users that are aware of these issues. ;^)

EFF: A broadcast flag update

Posted Sep 28, 2005 12:33 UTC (Wed) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link]

Furthermore, I'll stay away from illegal sharing because I *don't* want to give them a reason to gain more power. It's that simple.

It's not so simple. It is not clear what "illegal sharing" is; it might even be disregarded as a contradiction in terms, as "sharing" should always be ethically acceptable and therefore legal.

In fact, they gain more power if you consider illegal an activity which was previously allowed. The music industry have succeeded to put fear into a generation of music lovers, and converting innocent sharing into a filthy crime. Hopefully, this situation can be reversed; and one way to do it is to engage in the questionable activity with acceptance of its full consequences. Another way is to defend those that are being prosecuted for it. I think we can make a difference; if it was not for Ed Felten and other brave souls, distributing software like DeCSS might have been cursed and be illegal by now.