Comments on: Seeking changes to the DMCA

Controversial law hinders warnings to consumers on matters like Sony rootkits, security researchers say.

DMCA and the lack of software Quality Control

While DMCA, as written, clearly addresses the rights of the software and copyrighted products industry, this law does not protect the rights of the consumer. We have seen--very consistently--that many of the top operating system and software players have no problem with "beta testing" their products on unsuspecting consumers.
All too frequently many of these copyrighted products arrive on our systems rife with defects and security holes. We have already seen that the consumer cannot rely on the copyright holders to locate and correct those defects--there is simply no profit in this post-production quality control.
As long as DMCA mindlessly targets anyone who might bypass security to research defects in code, the consumer has absolutely no right to quality copyrighted products. Nor will we have any right to timely modifications should defects turn up. (I won't even mention the millions of dollars in costs consumers bear in correcting defective products.)
Bottom line: as long as the copyright holders themselves are the only ones legally entitled to protect the consumer from defects, the consumer will NOT be protected in any credible manner.
One of the key recommendations I suggest on my biztechnet.org blog is that you should closely track and document every penny in costs related to finding and correcting defects and security holes in copyrighted products. Then, when it comes time to negotiate any license and support agreements with that the copyright holder you should begin demanding that they compensate you for those costs with price reductions. There is much more to this process but this is not the proper forum for me to explain.

[bobby_brady]

That's why the entertainment industry loves DMCA

it slowly gets rid of fair use for consumers.

[oceanview_1]

Ain't going to happen....

there are too many politicians in the pockets of the entertainment industry....
besides..I'm sure is a politicians DVD went bad..they would get a free replacement...however, we the poor public will have to pay...

I'll continue to use whatever resources are available to protect "MY FAIR & HONEST USE".

all we can do is keep figting...

Your first sentence implies...

that there might be some politicians who haven't been bought off. Look it up, every one of them voted yea on the DMCA. Vote "NAY INCUMBENT" this fall and in 2008.

[jimjv2005]

DMC copyright law.

In six months to a year you will be able to download music, audio books to virtual memory moastlikely, so what difference or impact, would a copyright law have?