EFF: European Report Threatens Consumers' Rights

Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 17, 2005

Contact:

Cory Doctorow
   European Affairs Coordinator
   Electronic Frontier Foundation
   cory@eff.org
   +44 798 607-2869

European Report Threatens Consumers' Rights

EFF Urges Fresh Inquiry Into Ramifications of DRM

London - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has
criticized a European Commission group for assuming that
digital rights management (DRM) is the only way to foster
development of the home audiovisual market.

In comments filed last week, EFF European Affairs
Coordinator Cory Doctorow took the Networked Audiovisual
Systems and Home Platforms (NAVSHP) group to task for its
report on developing a harmonized system of DRM
requirements. Doctorow urged NAVSHP to explore approaches
grounded in empirical research, not industry mythology.

"DRM is already widely deployed without a hint of success
and the NAVSHP group has the opportunity to learn from its
well-known failures," said Doctorow. "NAVSHP should take a
new look into how DRM affects the public, artists, and
industry."

So far, DRM has failed to reduce unauthorized copying or
enrich content authors and performers, and instead has
curtailed competition and sacrificed user-rights for the
benefit of entertainment giants.  A fresh inquiry could
examine why otherwise law-abiding citizens have resorted to
finding unrestricted material on peer-to-peer networks and
look at technological systems that might encourage new
artistic works and new business models.

"The EU and the world are experiencing a revolution in
creativity thanks to the Internet," said Doctorow.  "An
entire generation of remixers, talented amateurs, and
Creative Commons enthusiasts have created works that do not
require DRM to thrive. NAVSHP should produce
recommendations for systems that embrace unrestricted
distribution methods in support of these new
Internet-native business models. These European creators
deserve every bit as much attention from the EU as do
American film studios and other incumbents."

For the full critique submitted to NAVSHP:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/NAVSHP/

For more on digital video standards in Europe:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DVB/

For this release:
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2005_10.php#004064

About EFF

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading civil
liberties organization working to protect rights in the
digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and
challenges industry and government to support free
expression and privacy online. EFF is a member-supported
organization and maintains one of the most linked-to
websites in the world at http://www.eff.org/


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