Consumers of copy-protected CDs and DVDs face security risks to
their equipment, unfair limitations on their use of products and
unreasonable contract terms, according to the National Consumer
Council (NCC), which is calling for new legislation.
In a submission this week to an MP's inquiry into Digital Rights
Management (DRM), the NCC says the current self-regulation of DRM
is not working.
It says the increased use of DRM technology in everyday products
such as DVDs, CDs and music downloads is hindering consumers'
enjoyment. Consumers are finding that they can't play DVDs that
they have bought abroad or make compilations of material that they
have purchased for their own use.
Most online music downloads are protected by DRM systems which
can prevent or limit consumers' ability to transfer the music on to
other computers they own or to portable listening devices. The wide
variety of systems and proprietary formats often leads to
compatibility problems with players. This means that consumers who
wish to change their music service providers or playback devices
are often obliged to repurchase music files in a different
format.
In the NCC's opinion, not only is the use of DRM constraining
the legitimate consumer use of digital content, but it is also
undermining existing consumer rights under consumer protection and
data protection laws.
The recent Sony BMG case supports the NCC's opinion.
In December 2005 Sony BMG settled a class action lawsuit filed
over its release of music CDs that, when played on PCs, installed
potentially damaging copy-control software.
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