Groups muster troops for Day Against DRM combat

The Free Software Foundation declared Tuesday the International Day Against DRM, urging protests across social media and pushing for the end of tough anti-circumvention policies that, they say, take away owner's rights to the content they have already paid for.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) which the FSF calls "digital restrictions management," has long been a contentious issue in digital media. Publishers of music, movies and software use a myriad of restrictive technologies to prevent unlicensed copying or redistribution, though online piracy continues apace.

+ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD: Five U.S. ISPs accused of 'deliberately harming' broadband speeds | Review: FireEye fights off multi-stage malware +

FSF campaigns manager Zak Rogoff wrote in an official blog post that the spread of DRM use has reached a critical point.

"During the last year, we've seen Digital Restrictions Management creep farther into the world of technology ... even as we build a stronger and stronger community to fight it," wrote. "A growing number of people are living within a box constrained by DRM without even knowing it. The future is DRM in everything, if we don't do something."

The FSF was joined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and a pair of European groups in promoting the Day Against DRM. In a statement, the EFF said that DRM technology, all too often restricts legal use along with illegal copying.

"It's time to fight back against these laws that strip users of our rights over the media and devices we've rightfully purchased," the group said.

Along with the activist groups involved, some publishers of DRM-free media slashed prices in honor of the event. O'Reilly's ebooks are discounted by between 50% and 60%, and No Starch Press is also offering half-price ebooks. The World Bank has also been promoting its own DRM-free publications.

If DRM is TOXIC to your freedom celebrate #DayAgainstDRM: Save 50% on *all* ebooks & videos http://t.co/IZLFfcSPeF

What is the difference b/w DRM & copyright enforcement? FAQs about DRM: http://t.co/TwjkYREgQ4#DayAgainstDRMhttp://t.co/29Tnoy5Kih

This year's Day Against DRM is the eighth event of its kind, according to the FSF the first occurred on Oct. 3, 2006. The focus has generally been on consumer media, though the 2013 event coincided with a heated debate over the inclusion of DRM in draft HTML5 standards.

Email Jon Gold at jgold@nww.com and follow him on Twitter at @NWWJonGold.

Read more about software in Network World's Software section.

Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

Tags softwareFireEyeFree Software Foundation

More about EFFElectronic Frontier FoundationFireEyeFree Software FoundationO'ReillyReillyWorld Bank

Show Comments
[]