Happy International Day Against DRM.

Digital rights management (DRM) is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that are not desired or intended by the content provider. DRM also includes specific instances of digital works or devices. Companies such as Amazon, AT&T, AOL, Apple Inc., the BBC, Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Sony use digital rights management. In 1998 the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was passed in the United States to impose criminal penalties on those who make available technologies whose primary purpose and function is to circumvent content protection technologies.[1] — Wikipedia: Digital rights management (DRM)

In other words, DRM is technology that cripples stuff we buy so that we can only use it the way the distributor bought it says we can.

“International Day Against DRM” is an initiative of Defective By Design, a branch of the Free Software Foundation

Bill C-11 the Copyright Modernization Act

Right now, Bill C-11 The Copyright Modernization Act" hangs over Canada like a Sword of Damocles about to fall.

In Canada we hear words like “digital locks” and “technological protection measures” but it all means DRM.

Bill C-11 will make circumvention of DRM illegal in Canada, *not* only for copyright infringement, but this law will make it illegal for us to do things Canadians are otherwise legally allowed to do. If DRM is present it will be able to legally prevent Canadians from:

• listening/reading/watching digital media we have purchased on our choice of device
• accessing Creative Commons or other copyleft licensed content
• making personal backups
• accessing public domain work
• install free software
• &tc.

The reality is that my imagination simply isn’t good enough to imagine all the ways Canadian creators, consumers, students and citizens will be abused by misapplication of DRM. All I know is that the worst is guaranteed.

http://laurelrusswurm.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/happy-international-day-against-drm/