Reaction Paper #8 due 10-23

Here it is!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6337781.stm

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/09/universal-goes-drmfr.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6516189.stm

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/11/sonys_drm_rootk.html

and the first letter/response in this link:

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/03/more-on-free-and-suchlike.html


1. These links are pretty much all anti-DRM (It was a bit hard finding an article that supported it!). What is your reaction to them? Do you think DRM is a necessary evil? (or is it wrong at all?) Can you defend the notion of DRM?
2. What do you think about Neil Gaiman's notion of giving away books in hopes of selling them? Do you think it is realistic?
3. Has the traditional model of selling music, movies, and books been destroyed by the Internet? Who will be affected more, the major recording artists or the garage band that depends on sales to even pay rent?