Clearly labelled crippled media

[Steve]

A group of UK MPs have recommended that media such as movies and music should be clearly labelled to show just how DRM crippled they are. The idea is that customers know exactly what freedoms they will have with the disc or download before buying it.

This would ensure that it was "crystal clear" to consumers what freedom they have to use the content they are purchasing and what would happen if they do something outlawed by the protection system.

The same labelling systems would also spell out what happened in the event of a maker of DRM technology going bust, if a protection system became obsolete or if gadgets to play the content are replaced.

[BBC News]

Interestingly the report was being written around the time of the Sony BMG rootkit - so it's no surprise that this was the resultant recommendation!

[directhex]

it would need to be completely retroactive to have any effect though - and given how some albums have both DRM and non-DRm editions, that would require a more or less complete recall of every CD in the country, for re-labeling

however, *if* they did this, i might start buying music again. currently, i go with the current labeling scheme (if it has a Compact Disc Digital Audio logo on it, it's clean), but many real discs lack the CDDA logo

[merlin2001]

It can only be a good thing. Knowing what your getting when buying a CD can only be a good thing. It would be especially interesting if it is implemented to see if the stats show sales of DRM media is lower than non-DRM media.

on a related rant - just got season 6+7 of the the simpsons. EVERY disc so far starts with a 1 minute long anti-piracy advert that you cannot skip which almost implies that I'm a dirty, evil pirate. The MOST annoying thing about it is that I've paid money to be preached too, while i am sure that those who have viewed it on less legal media have that part stripped out...

[nichomach]

Agreed, Merlin - and you get the same crap on things like childrens DVDs. Try explaining to a 2yr old why you can't make the nasty trailer vanish and make "Lady and the Tramp" go. Ugh.

[Jonny M]

If I bought a DVD which had forced advertising at the start (hello Disney) I'd be returning it and giving them the reason why.

[superscaper]

I think it's a good idea as well. I think they'd only have to put stickers on all curent stock in the same way as any new labelling legislation is brought in without overdoing it and recalling everything. Also in light of the recent starforce and sony rootkit fiascos, I'd like to know what something is going intall on my computer before I actually buy it.

[nichomach]

If I bought a DVD which had forced advertising at the start (hello Disney) I'd be returning it and giving them the reason why.

And then explaining to the two year old why they can't watch Cinderella any more? Brave man...

[Lee H]

If I bought a DVD which had forced advertising at the start

I hate these disc's with a fashion.

I want to watch the film, not some crappy trailers for the latest "chic-flick" or some anti-piracy trailer that goes on.

Oh yeah and those damn copyright warnings that pop up as well for UK, Ireland, Europe, Rest of the world and Mars. Why do these pause on each one for like 10-20 secs depending on film.

I totally hate the fact that I cannot insert Alien's special edition and start it straight away, there's loads of cruddy warnings and then the interactive menu system which takes a while to load.

A quick message to DVD producers - and I'll buy more - simple as really.

[superscaper]

When it's the genuine consumers that are having their experience hampered (and especially when those inconveniences are not there for pirated versions) then the manufacturers and distributers need to seriously rethink their methods and anti priacy strategies. They seem to have it the wrong way around when they're preaching to the converted.

[directhex]

I hate these disc's with a fashion.

I use my HTPC as a DVD player, most of the time. It's configured to use VideoLAN as the DVD player app. Some of the accidental by-products of this are region-free operation, and immediately jumping to the main menu when you start the DVD (skipping any and all adverts)

[BEANFro Elite]

It surprises me how much the music industry gets away with compaired to say the food industry for example, the food industry you have to put down the weight, the ingredients, nutritional information etc.

Okay so theres no need to actually have an ingredients list etc. on a an mp3 but I'm saying the consumer should be told as much as is possible about the product.

I think they should be forced on a dedicated section on the CD or in the case of an mp3 a seperate .txt file that states clearly, the song length, bitrate, copy protection and the known compatability issues, whether propriatary software is required to be installed and so on.

[TheAnimus]

its very true people when buying from i-tunes should be warned that their locked to it.

i think DRM should be allowed, as piracy is a problem, but at the same time you need to allow other people into the open system. Ironically the only DRM i tollerate is MS's because as long as you wave a relativly small amount of cash in front of them, they'll let you use their DRM system. But better than that 3rd party vendors can buy silicon with it all done...... don't see apple playing that fair!

But the problem always with DRM is people don't want to have it open'd up much in software because their worried people will simply work round it too easily, rather than making it a hassle. The by-product of this is often that the legitimate user gets hurt, and the person who rip's their DRM cd has a much better experiance.

[Veles]

Agreed 100% with all of the above

Can't stand the 2 minutes I have to wait sometimes when watching a DVD I have bought to actually get to the main menu. I really hate it when they add on adverts to the start of DVDs, sure, put them in but only as a special feature, I thought adverts like these died with the VHS but there are a few that still do it .

[The_Iceman]

Totally agree with this. The last few CDs i've bought have all had some kind of DRM on them, it's annoying that they are restricting what we can do with our music. If we buy a CD, we should be able to listen to it wherever we want, and from whatever player we want. I think that's reasonable after shelling out £12-£20.
Glad to know things could potentially move in a more positive direction.

[Funkstar]

my opionion isn't exactly original, but i'll agree whith the general consensus of the thread.

i'll just not hold my breath for this actually happening.

[chuckskull]

DRM is one of the main reasons I avoid most CDs now and I'm a serious audiophile, I have more CDs, vinyl, tapes than you've ever seen. I love buying new music, but I'd rather risk a RIAA lawsuit than fill my very expensive PC with DRM and rootkits.

I'd rather go get get some FWYH releases and mail cheques to artists personally :|