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"The Daily GameDev.Net" Discussion |
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 |   frob
Member since: 3/12/2005 From: Salt Lake City, UT | |||
Posted - 1/7/2009 1:36:22 PM | ||||
Quote:I highly doubt it. Observe that Congress specifically permitted DRM and other "copyright protection systems". Also observe that there is a massive amount of copyright violation and IP theft going on. People are breaking the law en masse. Our society depends on the rule of law. On the one side of the aisle we see some people complaining about DRM in the products they purchase. Yet these customers are protected by the commercial code, and are able to return their products if they do not work. In other words: If customer's don't like DRM they can vote with their wallet, and either not buy the game or legally return it. Oh the other side of the aisle are the companies with detailed logs showing roughly 90% of people using their products are doing so illegally. These people are protected by copyright law. In other words: Game creators can demonstrate IP theft on a massive scale, in spite of Congress' laws such as DMCA that attempt to add teeth to IP laws. So since the paying customers have legal channels they can follow and the game creators do not, I foresee additional attempts to force the lawbreaking masses to stop. I foresee no additional consumer protections. | ||||
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 | krez GDNet+
Member since: 10/10/2001 From: NJ - The Garbage State | |||
Posted - 1/7/2009 7:06:47 PM | ||||
| I am generally against the government involving themselves in anything they have no clue about (which is most things, including this one). However, I would like it if companies (game publishers or not) were held to the same standards as the ordinary citizen. Meaning, if I installed a root-kit on your computer, or told you I was giving you a program and also installed some tracking software, I would do jail time. Considering how quickly all DRM gets cracked anyway, I see no problem with the publisher having to give details about how invasive their DRM is, and include fully-functional uninstall software for it. Sadly, I predict that if they DO pass any laws about this, they will be poorly written and vague, and the first time it comes up in court EA (or whoever) will have to pay a fine that costs less than their lawyer's shoes. And since I'm spending time posting anyway - Why is the ESRB rating a game suitable for teens when the game advertises alcoholic products? (This is not a moral call on my part, there are laws about underage drinking)... Ah they are probably too busy looking for patches on the internet that let you see boobies :) | ||||
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| frob
Member since: 3/12/2005 From: Salt Lake City, UT | |||
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Posted - 1/7/2009 8:59:34 PM | ||||
Quote:Why are movies not rated R or NC-17 for showing ads of alcoholic products? Why are "death simulators" not forbidden? Why can mainstream movie heroes kill, destroy property, and otherwise do things that in the real-world would put them in jail for life or death? The answer should be obvious: There is a difference between real life and the world of make believe. About the ESRB generally, the games industry is self-regulated. The various ratings boards are attempts to keep it that way, just like the movie ratings boards. Please trust me that you don't want to have mandatory government regulation of entertainment! There are a several nations around the globe that have it, and it is not well liked. | ||||
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| frob
Member since: 3/12/2005 From: Salt Lake City, UT | |||
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Posted - 1/7/2009 9:27:04 PM | ||||
Quote:In this nation, YOU are a part of the government, if nothing else you are part of the governed, and if you are old enough you are part of the voting body. No matter your age you are part of the government through civic participation (or giving up that power through lack of participation). If you disagree with those actively participating in your government, there are countless avenues available to you to fix it. Quote:Please be careful with your arguments. The sellers have to follow the law, it doesn't matter if they are a multi-national corporation or a medium size business or the guy down your street. They all follow the same law. In that respect, businesses are ordinary citizens. The seller has a lot of requirements they must follow, but as long as they follow them everything is just fine. The copy protection systems on mainstream games are not only permitted by law, but in most cases encouraged by the law. The US Code, Title 17 (copyright law) has a whole chapter devoted to copy protection systems like DRM. As long as criminals continue to violate the internationally-required copyright protections, the power granted to copyright holders to enforce their rights will just expand until the teeth get big enough to deter infringement. Our commercial system is based on the simple theory of "Buyer Beware". You are not obligated to buy games. You have no right to entertainment. Game companies do not install software on your computer without your consent. You buy the software. You put it in the drive. You click the buttons. The fact that the game (which you do want) installs other software (that you didn't want) is an ancillary detail. It was your responsibility to make sure the goods were what you wanted, and what was advertised. If you failed to verify that before your purchase there are still routes to return the stuff for a refund (which is an amazing thing, if you look over the history of the world). If that STILL isn't enough, you have the right to go to the courts and request additional remedies -- although you aren't likely to get very far because your accusations make it obvious you didn't do your own due diligence investigations before making the purchase. Quote:The game companies have your permission to install software. That is implicit in you taking the steps to acquire the stuff and put it on your machine. It is your responsibility to ensure that the software is what you wanted. This is very different from a stranger breaking in and installing software without knowledge or consent. Several of those views are truly frightening. I am thankful those ideas are not codified into law. Edit: Removed two pointless inflammatory statements. I appologise. I've had a long day and the post really struck a nerve. [Edited by - frob on January 7, 2009 11:27:33 PM] | ||||
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