F* idiot.

Oh, listen to you, the world reknown expert. Everyone should know what you know and be interested in what you’re interested in. You’re so great.

Tell me, why does EVERYONE need to know what region codes are? Condescending prick.

The rootkit was only placed on the computers of people dumb enough to leave Micro$oft’s auto-run enabled. Any time I’ve installed a CD/DVD drive in my system, the first thing I do is disable that “feature”. Nothing runs on my system unless I want it to. Of course M$ tried to prevent this in XP, since the damn auto-run “No Action” choice doesn’t work, but you can still disable the auto-insert notification and prevent it from auto-running anything.

“Most people don’t know it exists untill they get bit in the arse by it. Usually thinking the electronics are physically damaged.”

Most people don’t even know what region codes are.

The difference that I’m trying to point out here, is that everything will have compatible DRM. Therefore, you’ll be able to exercise all your old rights – for a fee. I just think that the great unwashed will bite.

Of course, the hard-core techies/enlightened people like us will not buy into this. Heck, I won’t even use the *free* internet TV catch-up services, because they are infested with DRM. Unfortunately, we are vastly outnumbered by the pig ignorant great unwashed.

Most people don’t know it exists untill they get bit in the arse by it. Usually thinking the electronics are physically damaged.

Speek to some older ‘technophobe’ (or pre computer people), and you’ll quickly hear the same comments spoken by the ‘techono-nerd / pirates’. Well the tone is a bit different; disbilief, not anger

“It’s music .. like a record .. I should be able to play it anywhere .. shouldn’t I?”
“I paid for it .. it’s mine .. and I’ll do what I want with it”
And like true hackers “There’s a way to fix that, right?”.

I always felt that the reason DRM failed for Big Media, is because of all these incompatibilities, showing up the DRM demon in its worst light. I think that if this “interoperable” poison is introduced, together with a low enough fee to exercise rights you previously had, then the vast majority of people will simply pay the extortion fee required and be done with it.

I believe this version of DRM might set the bar high enough that the sheeple will finally just pay the extortion fee. What with the way that laws are getting changed around the world in favour of the Big Media mafia (think France and the new internet 3 strikes rule) , I think that their DRM dream will largely come true.

I hope I’m wrong and once again, only time will tell.