DRM – rgbFilter

Bill C-32 and digital locks

June 8, 2010 Doug Groves bill C-32, copyright, digital locks, DMCA, DRM, Michael Geist, privacy1 Comment

When the Canadian government put forth it’s new copyright bill last week there were few surprises. The new bill still supports making circumvention of digital locks illegal, thereby negating many of the fair dealing provisions allowed for in the Conservative’s ‘new and improved’ version of bill C-61. Support for freeing up the DRM section of bill C-32 has been growing since it’s announcement. Besides the large swath of consumers opposed to DRM’ed content, groups such as The Canadian Booksellers Association and the Retail Council of Canada are saying “some parts…

New Canadian Copyright bill coming Thursday?

May 31, 2010May 31, 2010 Doug Groves Canadian DMCA, copyright, DRM, Tony Clement2 Comments

According to an article today by Michael Geist, one of Canada’s leading copyfighters, it looks like the replacement for the defunct bill C61 is going to be tabled by the Conservative government as early as Thursday. In Geist’s round up, he points out out that DMCA style anti-circumvention legislation, the most contentious part of C61, will remain intact, though there may be flexibility on time and format shifting. It also looks like the government is aiming to fast track the bill through Parliament. Geist also includes a quote from Industry…

Rogers introduces DRM free music… sound familiar?

February 24, 2010February 24, 2010 Doug Groves digital download, DRM, Music, OTA, Rogers6 Comments

(UPDATE: fixed incorrect URL and graphic – where’s that editor-in-chief when you need him? Oh yeah…) With services and pricing structures being almost identical between the ‘big three’ Canadian wireless carriers, it’s hardly surprising that Rogers has followed Telus’ lead, and has introduced a new DRM free music service. Two wIn keeping with the theme, individual tracks will cost between $0.69 and $1.29, with $0.99 being the sweet spot. Albums will also generally be priced at $9.99. To help differentiate itself, Rogers is also the first to introduce pre-orders. “Customers…

Telus first Canadian mobile carrier to do DRM-free music

February 10, 2010 Doug Groves digital download, DRM, Music, OTA, Telus1 Comment

I haven’t looked at buying music from a mobile device in a long while, but would have figured that DRM free was now de rigueur. Apparently not for purchasing over the air on your phone, at least in Canada. Telus has announced today that they have launched a DRM-free over the air (OTA) service. In short, as a Telus customer, you’ll be able to buy music directly on your phone (with free 30 second previews). Once you have it there, since you’re free of those pesky rights management issues you…

Download Decade a must read/watch/listen

May 20, 2009May 20, 2009 Doug Groves DRM, torrent1 Comment

Earlier this month, Canadian newspaper The Globe And Mail recently launched The Download Decade series, which is a multimedia cornucopia looking at how the media landscape has changed since Napster launched 10 years ago (as of June 1st). Besides a wealth of articles on all aspects of digital media, the site, which was months in the making, has a number of video and audio features, which can be viewed not only through YouTube and iTunes, but also downloaded via the oft-maligned bit torrent. I can say that this is one…