Consumer rights advocates decry HD-DVD system

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Tapei news have been echoing the words published in the Guardian newspare UK earlier this week about concerns about the new Digital Rights Management that will be introduced into next generation HD DVD players.

"Imagine someone creeping into your living room and tweaking your DVD player so that it no longer played any discs. Or what about a DVD disc that didn't like the look of your television, and so only displayed low-quality video pictures? Such scenarios are theoretically possible with a new digital rights management (DRM) system being rolled out by the video industry, PC companies and consumer electronics firms.

What is more, under the new system, no one need enter your home to disable your video player. Little wonder, then, that Mike Evangelist, a former director of product marketing for Apple Computer, describes the new system as sinister and has set up the HD Boycott Web site (www.hdboycott.com), urging people not to buy high definition (HD) discs and players. But those behind the technology say we should welcome the new flexibility it will bring to using digital video content."

New technology and more BIg Brother style concerns from groups opposed to this new technology - there is nothing new here I here you say. History is littered with such concerns with all new technology having endured similar examination from worried individuals and organisations. They do make some very valid points though and in the end the end user will decide if this new technology is too invasive or not for their liking. The DRM publishers will argue though, that if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to be concerned about.

My personal opinion is that DRM does take this whole protection of content policy way too far and can only discourage the end user in their decision to purchase or not.

You can read the full story Here and I would recomend you do as it is a very informative read indeed, if only from one sides ( Apple ) perspective.