Nick Jordan

When private locks shackle public works. A very nice piece by the ever-reasonable Bill Thompson on Microsoft’s new Zune media player and Digital Rights Management. Protecting the public domain and Creative Commons-type licensing is becoming increasingly important, and companies like Microsoft who would trample over the rights of users in order to mollify big business should be sent a clear message that we won’t tolerate their behaviour.

If you’re in the market for a portable media player, don’t buy a Microsoft Zune or similar. Find one that doesn’t impose unnecessary (and possibly illegal in the case of Creative Commons licensed material) restrictions.