Are you worried about Barack Obama reading all your emails and listening to all your phone calls? Beefing up your privacy settings is one thing, but fighting in the greater war to protect your Constitutional rights is another. You should do the latter, y’know, to be a good American. Here’s how to get started.
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The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, passed in 1998, is a fundamental piece of legislation which forms the foundation of US law regarding digital rights. It’s far from perfect for consumers—but it also has a massive impact on the progress of research, too. More »
One of the greatest benefits of 3D printing technology – the ability to make replacements or parts for household objects like toys, utensils and gadgets – may be denied to US citizens thanks to the granting of a sweeping patent that prevents the printing of unauthorised 3D designs. It has all the makings of the much-maligned digital rights management (DRM) system that prevented copying of Apple iTunes tracks – until it was abandoned as a no-hoper in 2009. More »
AAC files and the arcane don’t have much in common on the surface. After some digging, however, PBS’ Idea Channel has found that magic is an uncannily good analogy for digital music rights and explaining the thorny ethical issues that come with them. Both music and spells stem from grassroots cultures that give away their content for free, but (at least until an anti-magic clampdown at eBay) have since become businesses. That nature poses a key ethical question: when we’re used to a free experience and can copy songs or spells as much as we like, what does it take to keep us as honest customers? As show host Mike Rugnetta suggests, it’s a matter of personal responsibility — if we want more of either, we have to think of the commerce as showing support for future work. You can catch Mike’s clever train of thought after the break, and ponder what constitutes DRM for a potion while you’re at it.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Internet, Alt
PBS draws link between digital music ethics and magic spells, somehow makes it look simple (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 22:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The rumors making the rounds yesterday that actor Bruce Willis was going to sue Apple over who owns digital music libraries after the original buyer passes away. According to the story Willis was angry that rather than his large digital music collection going to his family ownership reverts Apple on his death. It seems the story was fake.
It’s a very odd rumor to start, but according to Willis’ current wife Emma Hemming, the actor is not suing Apple. Hemming debunked the rumor using twitter stating that the rumor, which apparently started with Daily Mail, is just not true. What is true is that the ownership of digital content is a sore point for many web users.
If you pay your money for digital music, I believe it should be yours and ownership should go to your family upon your death. Apple’s rules now do in fact stipulate that ownership reverts to them in the event of your death. Apple isn’t alone in this rule either. What do you think?
[via Times of India]
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