Today I came across a report in Trisquel GNU/Linux’s issue tracker describing a new bug in Mozilla Firefox which, Trisquel developer Rubén Rodríguez Pérez says “allows Mozilla to install any binary into the browser, through a dedicated system of updates”. … Continue reading
I don’t agree with any form of DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) being “justifiable” for some forms of media but not audio (presumably because consumers have been acclimated to DRM-freedom for audio). A series of technocratic explanations won’t justify rejecting Apple’s … Continue reading
Máirín Duffy recently won a Nook Tablet device in a contest. Her difficulty working within the restrictions of modern-day e-books are telling and interesting reading. Do what the ads for reading devices never tell you to do: Consider what freedoms … Continue reading
The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon.com is starting a digital book lending service; readers will be able to download a copy of a book and keep it on their reading device for as long as they want before “returning” … Continue reading
Ars Technica reports that on August 28, 2011 Wal-Mart will close its online music store where Wal-Mart sold many DRM-encumbered music tracks. DRM is properly defined as “Digital Restrictions Management” because of its effect on the user, as you’ll see. … Continue reading
Engadget reports that Apple Computer chief Steve Jobs recently spoke about DRM (digital restrictions management): Q: I bought the movie Up on DVD, it had a digital download. I put it on my iPad. I hooked up my VGA adapter … Continue reading
Summary Recently Amazon Kindle users who purchased copies of George Orwell’s 1984 or Animal Farm lost those novels when the publisher changed their mind about publishing electronic copies via Amazon’s portable reading device known as the “Kindle” (more deservedly known … Continue reading
Cory Doctorow is an award-winning author of many books. He simultaneously distributes his work online at no charge and commercially through traditional book vendors. He also knows what DRM means for the reader/listener. Now he’s up for two Hugo awards, … Continue reading
James Boyle, law professor and author of “The Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind“, recently wrote about his mixed feelings concerning the release of his book for the Amazon Kindle, a portable proprietary electronic device for reading texts. … Continue reading
Apple says they’ll drop the DRM on all iTunes tracks. Other music distributors (some which sell the same tracks as iTunes) have already done this. Dropping DRM on iTunes tracks would be less onerous than the current arrangement where some … Continue reading