iPad Shredded for DRM Restrictions

A Jobsian-attired protester at the Apple event. @FSF

Journalists streaming into the iPad event yesterday were greeted by a handful of volunteers from the Free Software Foundation protesting DRM restrictions in the about-to-be released device.

They dubbed the iPad the iBad for two reasons:

* All media in the iTunes store (with the one exception of music) is wrapped in Apple’s DRM. That means films, TV shows, movies and audiobooks (NB: books are in an open format ePub) are locked to Apple’s platform, taking away your right to share.

* All applications must be signed by Apple if they are to run, an unprecedented level of control for a general purpose computer. On top of this, Apple can push updates to the device over its wireless connection, letting them add or remove capabilities at any time.

There were only about six or seven naysayers outside Yerba Buena center yesterday, but they still hope to bring about some long-term change, namely by getting people to sign an online petition.

“We organized actions and protests targeting iTunes music DRM outside Apple stores and under the pressure Steve Jobs dropped DRM on music,” said FSF Operations Manager John Sullivan. “We’re here today to send the same message about the other restrictions Apple is imposing on software, ebooks, and movies. If Jobs and Apple are actually committed to creativity, freedom, and individuality, they should prove it by eliminating the restrictions that make creativity and freedom illegal.”

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Anti-DRM Protest Against The iPad Grows

Sullivan told Ars Tecnica what his protest crew’s next move might be: “We might take a trip down to the Apple Store to keep spreading the word… all in the hopes of turning this golden calf into a free-range gnu.”

The question is, if the iPad isn’t for geeks, how many people who buy them will care about DRM?

Via Stefano Maffulli, Ars tecnica

24 comments »

About the author

Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco native who has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek. You can find her on Twitter , Facebook and Google+.

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Posted in iPad, News | Tagged: DRM |

Ges
Actually none and isn’t he dressed like Steve Jobs?
Jim
I can share my music on all my home computers, I assume that ibooks will be the same.
Brentoni
In the Stevenote, Jobs mentioned that the eBooks would be based on some already industry-standard format. Did anyone remember what that was?
Reed Richards
the ‘standard’ for books is epub, but that ‘standard’ allows for many different and therefore incompatible DRM schemes. That means that if you buy books from iTunes you will only be able to read books on machines approved by Apple.
Would you want to switch and buy a Kindle you’ll have to buy the books again!
That’s why, ms Martinelli, ALL users, geeks and non-geeks, should care about DRM!
Peter
@Reed – Don’t buy Apple products if you disagree with their stance. There’s nothing illegal about what Apple is doing what so ever.
Ictus75
If you don’t like the terms, don’t buy it.
Craig Grannell
Gotta love the sign.
NO FREE SOFTWARE! Well, apart from all the free apps, obv!
NO INSTALLING APPS FROM THE WEB! Which, frankly, almost no-one gives a flying shit about. Installing from the App Store is easy. People like easy. Geeks don’t, obv.
NO SHARING MUSIC OR BOOKS! Well, apart from the sharing options that you get through iTunes. Oh, hang onâ€”I wonder if they’re talking about ‘sharing’, as in bootlegging? Right! I get it now! “I hate Apple because I can’t rip off loads of content and send it to my friends.”
WE CAN REMOTELY DISABLE YOUR APPS & MEDIA! That one’s fair enough, and it’s something Apple’s been doing daily. I’ve personally gad 300 apps wiped by Apple from my iPhone, and there would by now have been a staggering 46 millions apps on the iPhone if it weren’t for Apple remotely disabling apps and media. Except, of course, that I’m lying through my teeth.
DRM is a pile of arse, but Apple’s pile is less stinky than most, and, frankly, I really can’t work up any enthusiasm for the likes of Mr Sign on this subject.
(Also, regarding iBooks, has it been *confirmed* that the content will only play on Apple devices yet?)
MacRat
Must be money raising season again for the FSF zealots.
Brentoni
That boy in the black mock turtleneck…. looks like he’s ready to throw his PANTS ON THE GROUND!
nabil2199
@Craig Grannell: it’s free as in freedom(libre) not as in price.
without free software there would be no firefox, no web and yeah no os X
http://deoclicianocgiportfolio.wordpress.com deocliciano
Really a shame â€¦
What is more important, a healthcare reform that will enable virtually anyone to afford care or free software?
Go fight for free high education.
nabil2199
@deocliciano: how dare they question his steveness, right?
http://www.metrokids.ca Conrad
You don’t want to mention the Obama Healthcare Reform!! Before you know it all the Yanks will have free – er – SOCIAlIZED medicine! They’ll be able to go to the hospital when they’re sick! They’ll be able to get free treatments for life-threatening diseases without giving up their life savings!
Oh it’s awful! Our doctors here in Canada can’t wait to get out, and they’re jumping ‘the wall’ the surrounds Europe in droves…
Anyway. iPad 4 lyf!
Scoo
He may have valid points, but imagine how excruciating it would be spending more than 10 minutes with this guy.
TRRosen
Umm Apple does not push updates wirelessly that is not even a possibility all updates are synced from iTunes and under user control. Now Android that free/open system has forced updates!
DRM is specified by the content rights owners not Apple.
Dont like apps having to be approved. that means you can’t use anything other than a pc. No phones, no xbox, no playstation, no Wii.
By the way isn’t this guy violating Balmer’s copyright on crazy?
http://deoclicianocgiportfolio.wordpress.com deocliciano
@nabil2199
No, Fight some Really worthy fight.
I am not one-sighted.
I believe in free will.
@Conrad
?????????
http://www.motorcyclebum.com enprize
The “Jobsian-attired” – missing the obvious diaper the CEO was wearing.
Charli
missing the part that it’s the studios and publishers that want the DRM.
http://www.macspace.com.mx Angel Santiago
If u r not agree with apple u can switch to PC and stop protesting
Vopat
What is it with Americans lambasting someone who pushes for a change with a peaceful demonstration. I think the if you don’t like it don’t go to a PC argument was the worst. Something tells me Angel would score high on the Social Dominance Orientation and RWA scale.
Anti-communist
All the communists and socialists have suddenly popped up here at CoM to support these FSF guys. They want everything ‘free’ and made available for everyone to use, like they think every music album and iTunes tracks should just freely float and be pirated/shared/torrented all over the Internet. I’m sure they also hate Apple for being a successful profitable company in a capitalist society. Whatever.
kb
I love the Apple computing platform and I have no time for the likes of people whose adolescent estimation of Apple’s consumers is that they’re either drones or gay. However, it is looking more and more like the DRM issue, app signing and “remote control” of their new products will eventually drive me to Linux permanently. That would be a shame as Mac products outshine Linux apps for usability and good human interface, but the price of freedom, you know….
scstsut
NO FREE SOFTWARE! -Lot’s of free(beer) software, no free(libre) viruses [it's a tradeoff]
NO INSTALLING APPS FROM THE WEB! -All my apps are installed from the web; you can’t get boxed apps for iPhone/iPod/iPad anywhere; you can only get them on the web.
NO SHARING MUSIC OR BOOKS! -You can share your music, there’s no DRM on it; books? That’s up to the publishers just like the DRM on the music was.
WE CAN REMOTELY DISABLE YOUR APPS & MEDIA! -I can still run VoiceCentral and GV Mobile on my iPod (no updates but they’re on my iPod right now). How exactly can they disable my media? I can put all my music in Windows Media Player today (if I hate myself that much). Again, it’s up to the Labels/Publishers/Studios/Networks.
Come on people. There’s things to complain about Apple about. Don’t complain about Apple when it’s not Apple that’s doing it!
Tim Tom
This protest is not placed well. People going to buy the “new thing” neither are interested in specific computer topics as free software foundation nor in that restriction warning. The poor average people only want to have a look at that new iPad.
Neither at the right location nor at the right time.
If the protest should have a great effect it should reach the right people who are willing to occupy with DRM and these topics.