The Digital Freedom Campaign Responds to the RIAA's Predictions of a Comeback for DRM

The Digital Freedom Campaign Responds to the RIAA's Predictions of a Comeback for DRM

WASHINGTON, May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement can be at attributed to Maura Corbett, Spokesperson for the Digital Freedom Campaign:

RIAA AND MPAA NOW APPEARING AT DIGITAL HOLLYWOOD AS MONTY PYTHON'S THE BLACK KNIGHT

"Yet again, we are left scratching our heads at the big content companies. Much like the Black Knight's protestations to King Arthur that 'none shall pass!' in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the RIAA seems to believe that despite having no arms and no legs, digital rights management (DRM) is supposedly poised for a comeback. Equally disturbing were comments by the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) Fritz Attaway that the MPAA intends to wield DRM as a weapon to threaten consumers about their lack of rights.

"In a panel discussion at the Digital Hollywood conference, the content world established that it still lives in a completely different world than its customers. While the rest of the marketplace continues to successfully move towards business models for the digital age, David Hughes, who according to CNET heads up RIAA's technology unit, effectively ridiculed the progress that international music labels -- and RIAA member companies -- EMI, Sony BMG and the Universal Music Group, and major retailers Amazon.com and Wal-Mart have made by readily making DRM-free music available to consumers. The MPAA seemed more concerned with limiting its customers' rights than actually doing business with them.

"Meanwhile, back on earth, the rest of us have already figured out that digital freedoms equal digital profitability. Giving consumers what they want -- digital music -- the way they want it -- without burdensome DRM (digital rights management) software that locks them up -- pays dividends to all stakeholders in the digital world -- including the content industry.

"The Digital Freedom Campaign is compelled to remind these big content companies that consumers have also rights in the digital age, and those rights include the ability to enjoy the content they legally purchase. Content and consumer rights are not a zero sum game.

"DRM has suffered far more than a flesh wound, and we've all crossed the bridge into the digital age. Hey content companies -- wake up!"

About Digital Freedom: Digital technology enables literally anyone and everyone to be a creator, an innovator or an artist -- to produce music, to create cutting-edge videos and photos, and to share their creative work. Digital technology empowers individuals to enjoy these new works when, where, and how they want, and to participate in the artistic process. These are basic freedoms that must be protected and nurtured. The Digital Freedom campaign is dedicated to defending the rights of students, artists, innovators, and consumers to create and make lawful use of new technologies free of unreasonable government restrictions and without fear of costly and abusive lawsuits. www.digitalfreedom.org

Contact:
Jennifer Baskerville
202-683-3145
jbaskerville@qorvis.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Digital Freedom Campaign

CONTACT: Jennifer Baskerville, +1-202-683-3145, jbaskerville@qorvis.com,
for Digital Freedom Campaign

Web Site:

http://www.digitalfreedom.org/

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