[IDEA/DRAFT] On Digital Rights Management

[Communist Victoria]

THE WORLD ASSEMBLY,


DEFINING Digital rights management (Also known as DRM) as any block on on the types of devices that digital media can be used, the amount of time it can be accessed for, or the restriction or ban of offline viewing.

DEFINING digital media as any kind of game, video, music, picture or any other file.

NOTING that this creates a significant problem for consumers, particularly while traveling or upgrading devices, and also limits the enjoyment of the end user.

REQUIRES the following:
a) That any media that is released on a particular device shall be supported for a reasonable amount of time after the device is superseded.
b) That any digital media sold in which constant internet access is not required for basic functioning and use of the media, the enduser shall not have to connect to the interne.t
c) That any digita media sold will not have restriction on the amount of people that can access it, provided it is from the same computer
d) That any digital media sold shall be transferable to the owners net of kin, or whoever they see fit, provided the original person has died.
e) That all digital media sold shall be able to be installed on a reasonable number of devices, in which the minimum for reasonable is more than 1
f) That all digital media sold shall not install cookies or any other tracking software on the device, unless the user consents.
g) That once a device become obselete, the files shall be supported for a reasonable amount of time, reasonable being at least 6 months
and h) In compliance with clause H, any registered owner shall be notified via email or other forms of contact.
i) any region locking is prohibited, unless fraudulent media and technology are a problem in the market.
j) That an end user who purchases digital media recieves a Copy of the media, rather than a lisence to access it.

DEFINES Lisence as an agreement between the end user and the developer in which the developer allows the end user access to the media provided certain conditions are met in which conditions are set by the developer and may change on the whim of the developer.

ALSO DEFINES copy as the files used to access or use the digital media, and which the end user is not bound by terms and conditions which can be changed by the developer at any time, and are able to use the media how they please.

NOTES that::
a) this act does not apply to trial versions of otherwise paid software
b) does not apply to subscription services.
c) Does not apply to catch up tv.
and d) Does not apply to work in the public domain, or in draft

Thoughts people?
Category of free trade

EDIT: New Note, Stiked out clause c and e and replaced unlimited with reasonable, and added clauses H and I,
Version 3: unstriked Clause e, Added Clause 2j. Fixed clause 2b.

[Caracasus]

Interesting, but justify it. I'm not saying you're wrong here, or that this is a bad idea, but surely this is something a producer of digital material can choose to implement themselves if they wish?

In addition, my colleagues at Caracasus State Broadcasting Company inform me that we do offer a free internet catch-up service if people miss one of our hugely popular shows. However, under these new guidelines the CSBC would have to a) keep all programs on our website forever and b) provide support across a huge range of platforms and ensure that a team updates said programs should a system become obsolete. I'm afraid that faced by this kind of pressure the CSBC would have to stop running its online catch-up service - it would no longer be viable for us to do so.

If I can draw your attention here to points c and e, they appear to be in conflict. In one, you state that any amount of people can access this digital media, provided it is from the same computer, yet in e you wish for any digital media to be installed on an unlimited amount of devices. Surely these two rules contradict each other?

I do understand the general thrust of your argument, but I'm afraid that we feel that these regulations are far above and beyond what is called for. They make the sale of digital media far too open to abuse from the consumer, and place far too much responsibility on the provider to upgrade and maintain software.

[Communist Victoria]

Interesting, but justify it. I'm not saying you're wrong here, or that this is a bad idea, but surely this is something a producer of digital material can choose to implement themselves if they wish?

In addition, my colleagues at Caracasus State Broadcasting Company inform me that we do offer a free internet catch-up service if people miss one of our hugely popular shows. However, under these new guidelines the CSBC would have to a) keep all programs on our website forever and b) provide support across a huge range of platforms and ensure that a team updates said programs should a system become obsolete. I'm afraid that faced by this kind of pressure the CSBC would have to stop running its online catch-up service - it would no longer be viable for us to do so.

If I can draw your attention here to points c and e, they appear to be in conflict. In one, you state that any amount of people can access this digital media, provided it is from the same computer, yet in e you wish for any digital media to be installed on an unlimited amount of devices. Surely these two rules contradict each other?

I do understand the general thrust of your argument, but I'm afraid that we feel that these regulations are far above and beyond what is called for. They make the sale of digital media far too open to abuse from the consumer, and place far too much responsibility on the provider to upgrade and maintain software.

Thank you for your feedback. I believe I have made it too in favor of the consumer

[Sierra Lyricalia]

The most weaselly and hugest loophole used by many media producers is left wide open here: paying money for the use of a particular piece of media may be classified as securing a restricted license to play it, not purchasing a copy of it to do with largely as you please. Once that distinction is permitted, almost any sort of end user license agreement (EULA) shenanigans are in play.

Why is D) restricted to cases in which the original purchaser is dead?

Why strike out E)?

B) needs strengthening, because without it media companies can just make everything require a connection to work. Something like "if constant server contact is not technologically necessary to deliver substantially the same experience, it must be capable of working offline." That way your MMORPG can require a connection for non-single-player use, but playing a damn movie you can just do.

Will probably have other comments later, but those jump out the loudest for now.

Thank you for your feedback. I believe I have made it too in favor of the consumer

[Flibbleites]

The most weaselly and hugest loophole used by many media producers is left wide open here: paying money for the use of a particular piece of media may be classified as securing a restricted license to play it, not purchasing a copy of it to do with largely as you please. Once that distinction is permitted, almost any sort of end user license agreement (EULA) shenanigans are in play.

Why is D) restricted to cases in which the original purchaser is dead?

More importantly, why does the kin have to be in a net?

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Communist Victoria]

THE WORLD ASSEMBLY,


DEFINING Digital rights management (Also known as DRM) as any block on on the types of devices that digital media can be used, the amount of time it can be accessed for, or the restriction or ban of offline viewing.

DEFINING digital media as any kind of game, video, music, picture or any other file.

NOTING that this creates a significant problem for consumers, particularly while traveling or upgrading devices, and also limits the enjoyment of the end user.

REQUIRES the following:
a) That any media that is released on a particular device shall be supported for a reasonable amount of time after the device is superseded.
b) That any digital media sold in which constant internet access is not required for basic functioning and use of the media, the enduser shall not have to connect to the interne.t
c) That any digita media sold will not have restriction on the amount of people that can access it, provided it is from the same computer
d) That any digital media sold shall be transferable to the owners net of kin, or whoever they see fit, provided the original person has died.
e) That all digital media sold shall be able to be installed on a reasonable number of devices, in which the minimum for reasonable is more than 1
f) That all digital media sold shall not install cookies or any other tracking software on the device, unless the user consents.
g) That once a device become obselete, the files shall be supported for a reasonable amount of time, reasonable being at least 6 months
and h) In compliance with clause H, any registered owner shall be notified via email or other forms of contact.
i) any region locking is prohibited, unless fraudulent media and technology are a problem in the market.
j) That an end user who purchases digital media recieves a Copy of the media, rather than a lisence to access it.

DEFINES Lisence as an agreement between the end user and the developer in which the developer allows the end user access to the media provided certain conditions are met in which conditions are set by the developer and may change on the whim of the developer.

ALSO DEFINES copy as the files used to access or use the digital media, and which the end user is not bound by terms and conditions which can be changed by the developer at any time, and are able to use the media how they please.

NOTES that::
a) this act does not apply to trial versions of otherwise paid software
b) does not apply to subscription services.
c) Does not apply to catch up tv.
and d) Does not apply to work in the public domain, or in draft

Thoughts people?
Category of free trade

EDIT: New Note, Stiked out clause c and e and replaced unlimited with reasonable, and added clauses H and I,
Version 3: unstriked Clause e, Added Clause 2j. Fixed clause 2b.

Version 3... also, to that mod who replied, what do you mean by next of kin in a net?

[Flibbleites]

THE WORLD ASSEMBLY,


DEFINING Digital rights management (Also known as DRM) as any block on on the types of devices that digital media can be used, the amount of time it can be accessed for, or the restriction or ban of offline viewing.

DEFINING digital media as any kind of game, video, music, picture or any other file.

NOTING that this creates a significant problem for consumers, particularly while traveling or upgrading devices, and also limits the enjoyment of the end user.

REQUIRES the following:
a) That any media that is released on a particular device shall be supported for a reasonable amount of time after the device is superseded.
b) That any digital media sold in which constant internet access is not required for basic functioning and use of the media, the enduser shall not have to connect to the interne.t
c) That any digita media sold will not have restriction on the amount of people that can access it, provided it is from the same computer
d) That any digital media sold shall be transferable to the owners net of kin, or whoever they see fit, provided the original person has died.
e) That all digital media sold shall be able to be installed on a reasonable number of devices, in which the minimum for reasonable is more than 1
f) That all digital media sold shall not install cookies or any other tracking software on the device, unless the user consents.
g) That once a device become obselete, the files shall be supported for a reasonable amount of time, reasonable being at least 6 months
and h) In compliance with clause H, any registered owner shall be notified via email or other forms of contact.
i) any region locking is prohibited, unless fraudulent media and technology are a problem in the market.
j) That an end user who purchases digital media recieves a Copy of the media, rather than a lisence to access it.

DEFINES Lisence as an agreement between the end user and the developer in which the developer allows the end user access to the media provided certain conditions are met in which conditions are set by the developer and may change on the whim of the developer.

ALSO DEFINES copy as the files used to access or use the digital media, and which the end user is not bound by terms and conditions which can be changed by the developer at any time, and are able to use the media how they please.

NOTES that::
a) this act does not apply to trial versions of otherwise paid software
b) does not apply to subscription services.
c) Does not apply to catch up tv.
and d) Does not apply to work in the public domain, or in draft

Thoughts people?
Category of free trade

EDIT: New Note, Stiked out clause c and e and replaced unlimited with reasonable, and added clauses H and I,
Version 3: unstriked Clause e, Added Clause 2j. Fixed clause 2b.

Version 3... also, to that mod who replied, what do you mean by next of kin in a net?

You typoed, clause d) says "net of kin" instead of next of kin.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Defwa]

I think it's an accounting term. Where as the gross of kin would be all kin at that time, the net of kin would be all kin with adjustments made for deaths and births going forward.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I prefer a much straightforward approach: phase out DRM entirely in favour of watermarking (tagging the media stream with the user's identity).

-- Ms. S. Harper.

[Communist Victoria]

I think it's an accounting term. Where as the gross of kin would be all kin at that time, the net of kin would be all kin with adjustments made for deaths and births going forward.

Ironically, I am studying accounting

[Communist Victoria]

I prefer a much straightforward approach: phase out DRM entirely in favour of watermarking (tagging the media stream with the user's identity).

-- Ms. S. Harper.

What purpose would that achieve?