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Filed under: Internet, Microsoft

Microsoft: Teens don't understand intellectual property

by Brad Linder Feb 13th 2008

MyBytes
Microsoft has launched a new website aimed at teaching kids about intellectual property in the hopes of discouraging future generations from illegally downloading and using copyrighted music, movies, and images. MyBytes features quotes about the importance of intellectual property from content producers, a music mixing application for kids to create their own content (which they can then share with others), and video interviews with teenagers, most of whom say they don't really know anything about copyright law.

Microsoft has also released the findings of a survey stating that 49% of teens between 7th and 10th grade don't know "the rules and guidelines" for downloading media from the internet. But 82% of teens who said they were familiar with those rules said that people who downloaded content illegally should be punished. That's compared with 57% from teenagers who were unfamiliar with the law.

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Tags: copyright, creative-commons, fair-use, intellectual-property, mybytes

Filed under: Audio, Windows, Microsoft, Commercial

How much is enough?

Windowsby Ryan Carter Jul 12th 2006

With all the digital rights management floating about in the ether these days, and fiascos like Microsoft's WGA, I found myself standing beside myself, saying "Self, how much DRM (Digital Rights Management) is enough?" Self turned to me and said, "I don't know, but whatever it is, it is enough." While I couldn't tell if this was more poignant or confusing, I think my self is right. Good grief! Why must companies ruin everything good they have going by making their customers angry (for no reason)? I agree that some DRM is needed (or something like it) to protect the interests of artists, but why make the customers suffer just to move music to places they can easily hear it? Microsoft's WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) is another way that Microsoft is trying to protect their assets. Someone need to come up with a secure yet fluid way to transfer and play music easily, without stomping on the customer's rights either. So far, I really don't see any good solutions to the DRM problem. Regardless, this WGA nonsense is ridiculous. How much DRM should we put up with, and how much do we need?

Tags: DigitalRightsManagement, DRM, fair-use, Microsoft, music, sharing, WindowsGenuineAdvantage

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