I take this very seriously. Sony, and other companies, need to realize that to a heavy computer user, a computer is like a 2nd brain. Any attempt to compromise it’s capabilities or security, or to covertly collect information from it is absolutely unacceptable.

The Recorded Music industry does not exist within a free market capitalist context. In a free market context the content (the recorded music) would be un-tied to the distribution format (the format of the physical media, or the encoding of communication by telecommunications). The decision that you like a certain musician should not be tied to being forced to use specific technologies in order to enjoy that music.

On top of the tie between content and distribution technology, we also have Payola and various illegal schemes to control commercial radio airplay and retail shelf space to the benefit of the existing cartels.

In Canada we have Section 77 of our competition act that speaks of Tied Selling and Refusal to deal. Read these sections thinking about the anti-competitive recording industry and you’ll see what I mean. If we are to claim that we live in a free market capitalist world we need to fight to ensure that all marketplaces, including for markets of intangibles such as music, movies, and software actually exist within a free market.

What does the consummer want ? DRM crippled music or music in a standard that will allow him to play his legally bought tracks anywhere he wants ? Obviously the 2nd option.

I’ve asked some people in town who buy online music on iTunes alike stores. No one of them even KNEW what a DRM was, and once I told them, they were astonished (and all of them said they’ll stop buying DRM criplled stuff).

So the consumer’s lack of information is obviously the industry’s best ally to impose DRM stuff everywhere it can. Thanks to this Sony rootkit story, DRM can now much easierly be MEDIATISED. And I think that’s what we all should do in our contries : Inform the consumers about DRMs and how evil it is. Now that we have a clear case, it’s no sci-fi anymore.

Get mass-media coverage on this issue is an aim we all should seek. All around the world.

Don’t forget : Mediatisation leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to power. It’s time to get the power in the people’s hands again, by informing all those who do not know what a DRM is. Spread the word !

The fact that courts are not friendly or affordable for the average person means that the as usual, the average joe get it up the ….. What is needed is not minor victories, but a change of government. In theP.S.A., we need a government that obeys the Constitution, respects the law, and provides equal protection under law. That will not happen until people kick out most Democratic-Republican members of Congress and replace them with members from political parties that have not (yet) been corrupted by cartel money. If we keep flushing the toilet, we will eventually get rif of the shit.