EFF re: EC Report on Digital Restrictions Management

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: EFF: European Report Threatens Consumers' Rights
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 07:54:21 -0700
From: EFF Press <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]

Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 17, 2005

Contact:

Cory Doctorow
   European Affairs Coordinator
   Electronic Frontier Foundation
   [email protected]
   +44 798 607-2869

European Report Threatens Consumers' Rights

EFF Urges Fresh Inquiry Into Ramifications of DRM

London - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has criticized
a European Commission group for assuming that digital rights
management (DRM) is the only way to foster development of the
home audiovisual market.

In comments filed last week, EFF European Affairs Coordinator
Cory Doctorow took the Networked Audiovisual Systems and Home
Platforms (NAVSHP) group to task for its report on developing a
harmonized system of DRM requirements. Doctorow urged NAVSHP to
explore approaches grounded in empirical research, not industry
mythology.

"DRM is already widely deployed without a hint of success and the
NAVSHP group has the opportunity to learn from its well-known
failures," said Doctorow. "NAVSHP should take a new look into how
DRM affects the public, artists, and industry."

So far, DRM has failed to reduce unauthorized copying or enrich
content authors and performers, and instead has curtailed
competition and sacrificed user-rights for the benefit of
entertainment giants.  A fresh inquiry could examine why
otherwise law-abiding citizens have resorted to finding
unrestricted material on peer-to-peer networks and look at
technological systems that might encourage new artistic works and
new business models.

"The EU and the world are experiencing a revolution in creativity
thanks to the Internet," said Doctorow.  "An entire generation of
remixers, talented amateurs, and Creative Commons enthusiasts
have created works that do not require DRM to thrive. NAVSHP
should produce recommendations for systems that embrace
unrestricted distribution methods in support of these new
Internet-native business models. These European creators deserve
every bit as much attention from the EU as do American film
studios and other incumbents."

For the full critique submitted to NAVSHP:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/NAVSHP/

For more on digital video standards in Europe:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DVB/

For this release:
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2005_10.php#004064

About EFF

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading civil liberties
organization working to protect rights in the digital world.
Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and challenges industry
and government to support free expression and privacy online. EFF
is a member-supported organization and maintains one of the most
linked-to websites in the world at http://www.eff.org/


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