Comment Number:	539814-00819
Received:	2/15/2009 12:38:53 AM
Organization:
Commenter:	Erik Larsen
State:	WA
Agency:	Federal Trade Commission
Rule:	FTC Town Hall to Address Digital Rights Management Technologies - Event Takes Place Wednesday, March 25, 2009, in Seattle
Attachments:

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Comments:

Depending on who you are, DRM is either a boon (to publishers) or a bane (consumers). A publisher can lock their content to any hardware they want, and a consumer must buy that hardware in order to view/play that content. And of course, DRM can prevent a file from being used on any other device. Otherwise it wouldn't be DRM. Do I believe that DRM is harmful to the American economy? Yes. Do I think it is beneficial to the American People? No. But it is benefical to the 'gatekeepers' wanting to control the world's access to our own cultures. Pay-Per-Read/Access/View is the ultimate dream of DRM. What becomes of American cultural history and intellectual freedom if the ability to access that culture and freedom is tightly controlled by those who have a vested interest in making money off of it? Should commerical organizations that have had only limited influence in the creation of our heritage be allowed to completely control our access to our heritage? Are we doomed to a future where Johnny can't read a history book because he doesn't have the appropriate reading license?