[Ecommerce] DRM Crusades in France (Helberger's blog)

[Manon Ress]

http://www.indicare.org/tiki-view_blog.php?blogId=3D12

The DRM crusades, or: The French DRM interoperability obligations and
the US
posted by NataliHelberger on 28/03/06 [05:16]
Those who thought that the French interoperability obligations for
DRM are "just" about interoperability of a technology to sell digital
music, competition and consumer interests are wrong. The public
backing of Apple iTunes passionate protests against the French draft
law by the US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on CNBC is an eye
opener. Gutierrez was cited with the words: "I would compliment that
company because we need for companies to also stand up for their
intellectual property rights." And: "If we all do that, have the
government work with other governments, have companies defend and
protect their own intellectual property, then we'll be able to make
more progress on a worldwide basis."

Just: worldwide progress in what? It is obvious that the US Commerce
Secretary was not referring to the problem of DRM interoperability.
Progress in anti-piracy legislation? Apple protested against the
French law by accusing France of "state-sponsored piracy". Looking at
the genesis of the French draft law, which is the stuff you could
make docu-dramas from, the restrictive provisions on the
circumvention of DRM, the horrendous fines for file-sharers, Apple's
claim sounds a little exaggerated, if not hysteric. How about:
progress of the American DRM standard FairPlay? in conquering the
French market? Sounds more like it, if you'd ask me. Seen in this
light, the French provisions about DRM interoperability are a French
"pi=E8ce de r=E9sistance" against an US conquest of the French market for
portable players and digital music download.

The US do not seem to be too happy about this.

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Manon Anne Ress
manon.ress@cptech.org,
www.cptech.org

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