In Free Culture, Lessig discusses code, or digital rights management, as being the modern regulater of copyright freedom. I agree completely. However, I think the one point he didn’t address (and maybe for good reason in forming his argument) was a possible negative public reaction to parasitic DRM techniques/code. In the corporate rush to prevent piracy I think some carelessly designed DRM is being used.
For example, recent Sony music cds installed software onto consumers computers that created security holes. The backlash has been huge.
Which causes me to ask, how much poisonous DRM will consumers put up with?
It strikes me that folks have come to accept a pretty high level of corporate sponsored poison. Various disciplines try to identify tipping points in the phenomena they study. In this case, I imagine the tipping point for a meaningful backlash may be quite far off. Think of all the other ways in which citizens and consumers roll over for the government and corporations. In return for chicken feed, smoke and mirrors, and soma-like experiences of patriotism and widescreen, surround sound, we will accept awful stuff, like non-biodegradable packaging that takes a small space-based lazer to remove from products.
Feelin’ a little cynical today, I suppose.
Yes, your PoV does sound a bit bleak! I know the general population is slow to complain about these issues.
I think this has to change with the generations. Maybe its the Baby Boomers that are being rolled over because of the learning curve. Won’t the story be a bit different when the tech-savy ranks below rise to their consuming peaks?