Comment Number:	539814-00594
Received:	1/14/2009 2:57:54 AM
Organization:
Commenter:	Sean Ridgeley
State:	Outside the United States
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:

DRM I feel is a very totalitarian way of going about things. I understand the impulse (why people would want to protect their property), but 1) it inconveniences legitimate customers and 2) it taints the relationship between creator and fan, as well as the thing itself (game, music, etc). While to some DRM is not a big issue, or an issue at all, even beyond this I fear if we continue to let it happen it would get worse and worse. I hope companies begin to trust people to buy whatever it is they're selling...there's enough distrust in the world. Yes, some people are going to steal. But they're going to steal anyway. If they're smart enough to know about DRM and dislike it, they're certainly capable of figuring out how to get rid of it, and/or to steal it instead of purchasing it. And it just serves as a challenge for some, which they enjoy overcoming. Distrusting your customers and treating them like this will make them not want to buy your product, because it is inconvenient, acts against preservation, and for some, because it demeans the art (if it is art). Personally I intentionally do not buy anything with DRM, and have even bought things largely because they do not have DRM, so as to send these messages out, and I know a lot of others do the same. Please think about these things and the direction in which our society would head if we let them continue. Freedom over restraint...the masses cannot be controlled. We've seen it tried throughout history, it just doesn't work. Thank you! Peace.