Media: Constraining the User to the System

The article "Consumers' rights given little respect" by Dan Gillmor on SiliconValley.com takes readers through the battle between digital entertainment manufacturers, in particular the console-makers, and the producers of chips to modify the functionality of the hardware.

At the moment, the action is in the courts of Hong Kong, having already been in Australia where the console-makers lost.

As Gillmor says: 'Suppose all the companies that manufactured cars informed customers, in the fine print of the purchase contract, that they could only have the car serviced and repaired at a company-owned dealership. Suppose, further, that the automakers enforced this rule by installing electronic hood-locks that could be opened only by dealers with authorized hardware and software keys - and then sued out of existence anyone selling an unauthorized key. You'd call your member of Congress to complain. And Congress would pass a law prohibiting such a blatantly anti-competitive, anti-customer practice.' I'm not sure the whole world would call Congress, but the point is a good one.

Associated Link: SiliconValley.com: Consumers' rights given little respect

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