Author Can't Quote A Single Line Of A Song In His Book Without Paying Up

Locked Up Technology Is Broken Technology

from the broken dept

Fri, Jun 24th 2011 5:28pm — Nina Paley

This comic was inspired by Sony, but they’re not exceptional. It’s also my first animated GIF Mimi & Eunice. Gear animation modified from Wikimedia Commons.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: drm, locked up technology
Companies: sony

38 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

big al, 24 Jun 2011 @ 6:00pm

good un
too much!!
too true!!
too bad!!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 6:14pm

Taking this example at face value, Porsche (and other major automobile makers) will lock the entirety of the hood parts. The only thing you have access to, is windshield washer. Check oil? Go to dealership. Check anything else? Go to dealership. Is this closed technology? No, cause after the warranty you can open it up yourself.

Having it locked for X period of time (reasonable one) is a good thing. Not to prevent anyone else from "fixing" it, but to give the builder a head start and keep his technology (to a certain extent) for that time period.

So great example, however lots of exeptions where your example is fatally flawed. I lol'ed nonetheless.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Greevar (profile), 24 Jun 2011 @ 7:29pm
  
  Re:
  You are forced to pay for service that you could do yourself or pay someone else to do for less and that's a good thing? That's not good at all. Your logic is warped and faulty. What does the consumer get out of that deal? A bigger repair bill until the warranty expires is all they get because the auto maker has effectively built a monopoly. And that car is closed technology despite what you might think. It's specifically designed to prevent access, not just by mechanism, but by coercion. It gives the auto maker a tool to force more money from the consumer instead of just trying to do better than the competition. So the consumers end up paying more and getting less. Oh yeah, that's a really good thing, for the dealer! It's a ripoff for the consumer. I would never buy a car like that. I'd be a fool if I subjected myself to those terms. I will take my car to whomever I please for general maintenance so long as they do it properly. A finite warranty term doesn't make it any better.
  
  Your shining example on how Nina's point is flawed is nothing but a steaming pile of delusional thinking. Do you always dismiss facts that conflict with your ideals and make up things that support them? I think you do. Do you realize how stupid you look? Are you Glenn Beck?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 8:47pm
    
    Re: Re:
    uh, you can buy from many other manufacturers without this restriction. Enough people do this, and the scheme falls on its ass.
    
    Just like with an iPhone. I don't want a walled garden, so I go to any one of the other smartphone manufacturers. Apple loses one of my sales, they lose enough and shareholders get pissy.
    
    Stop getting angry and just let the market take care of this issue?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - The eejit (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 12:12am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      It can't, however,because corporations are people too. Moreover, coporations actually have more rights than people.
      
      The global market is not a true free-market. Else patents would not exist, and neither would copyrights, as in a true free-market, they wouldn't need to.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Chargone (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 1:50am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        'course 'true' free markets default into monopolies Anyway, eventually. (if you take 'free' to be 'unregulated') the methods of getting there just fail to involve making laws.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        The eejit (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 2:01pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        WEll, actually, there's a good example of a free-market exerting regulatory pressure (or rather, there was) in the Kimberley Process and the selling of diamonds. A collective group exerted pressure in order to massively reduce the number of 'blood' diamonds on the market.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 27 Jun 2011 @ 10:57am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        The diamond market is anything other than a free market.
        
        Obviously I'm not suggesting that conflict diamonds aren't an issue, but it is in De Beer's best interest to support Kimberly certification, as it further restricts the supply of diamonds.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 9:02pm
    
    Re: Re:
    You are forced to pay for service that you could do yourself or pay someone else to do for less and that's a good thing?
    
    You already pay for the service when you bought the 50k$ car. Hello? Anyone home? Have you ever bought a new car?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - RadialSkid (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 1:21am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Have you ever bought a new car?
      
      Have you? Warranties are finite. Not to mention the dealers will use ANY excuse to claim it's been voided.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Anonymous Coward, 25 Jun 2011 @ 4:14am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Wow, I guess in the US you expect to get raped sideways by every single person out there. But for the rest of the world, we don't. So yeah.. it may not make sense to you, but to normal people, it does. Sorry.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        PaulT (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 8:55am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Erm, where do you live then? I've lived in 4 countries and I can assure that nowhere in those countries were there the infinite, unvoidable warranties you imply exist. You're seriously telling me I can buy a $50K car and never have to pay for anything that would normally be self-serviceable if the manufacturer hadn't locked it up?
        
        True, I've never bought a Porsche, but I somehow doubt these magical warranties exist.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 25 Jun 2011 @ 11:25am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        No one ever said anything about infinite warranties. Someone implied and you ran with it.
        
        As stated earlier, a standard 3-5 year warranty applies. However, for those years, only a certified Porsche mechanic can do the work. There will be no fees for said work as long as it's under warranty, like any car dealership.
        
        Porsche have an amazing warranty (they will even bring you a loaner if the car refuses to start) but still, common car makers are the same. In many countries. I guess the USA is different. If you're paying for your oil change, you're getting ripped off. That was the entire point. The end user is not allowed to modify it as long as it's under warranty.
        
        I have no clue how you ended up talking about magical warranties, but nice spin.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        PaulT (profile), 26 Jun 2011 @ 4:29am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "I have no clue how you ended up talking about magical warranties, but nice spin."
        
        Because you brought it up:
        
        "You already pay for the service when you bought the 50k$ car."
        
        Unless you get infinite warranties for the car, no you didn't. You paid for a limited number of services for a limited amount of time. After that you have to pay - BUT THE CAR IS STILL LOCKED DOWN.
        
        That's the entire point here. The technology is locked down so that only a limited number of people can service it. Those people will charge a premium. Thanks to the amount of computer equipment in modern cars, you risk falling foul of the DMCA et al if you try to modify the car to allow you to service it. Nobody else is allowed to offer a better service if they can, and nobody is allowed to legally service it if the manufacturer goes out of business. That's not right.
        
        "The end user is not allowed to modify it as long as it's under warranty."
        
        Except, this should not be legally enforceable, which is the direction it's headed in. I should be free to modify and change any piece of equipment I own, without legal risk. If I lose my warranty in the meantime, that's a private issue between me and the issuer of the warranty.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Greevar (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 7:35pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Nobody said the maintenance services were free under warranty. I made my comment under that assumption it wasn't. If all that is covered under the warranty, then it's actually a good deal.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 9:06pm
    
    Re: Re:
    God, you're an ass. Who's delusional here? You start insulting people when you don't even understand the concept of what you're arguing about. Go google a little, it should help. Go back to trolling for the music industry.
    
    Oh and who looks stupid? The person that has legit points, or the idiot insulting him with no arguments whatsoever?
    
    Now go back to trolling. It's better for everyone.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 9:10pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Oh and look. If I click your profile, I can see all you do is insult people. What a retard, seriously. Next time, READ what people say before making dumb attempts at insulting them with no valid arguments whatsoever. Ridiculous.
    
    And and FYI, Porsche will NOT charge your for the maintenance the dumbass garage you'll go to will. So yeah. Research is your friend. Your brain is not. Buy a new one. They're on sale @ Newegg.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 9:18pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Who ever said you needed a brain to troll ;) Members can troll too. I could name a few and I haven't been coming here that long. Troll in the making.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Greevar (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 7:50pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You didn't read very far into my profile if you think I'm a troll. It's true that I get adversarial when someone gets nasty, but I don't make a habit of insulting people without cause. If you had taken the time to look at larger range of my posts, you'd find that I don't troll. I often do, however, take people to task when they make factually inaccurate statements. Example: you.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - darryl, 25 Jun 2011 @ 5:10am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Porsche will NOT charge your for the maintenance the dumbass garage you'll go to will.
      
      But how can that be, how can there be a garage that is able to repair this so called "locked up" technology ?
      
      Someone here is a dumbass !!
      
      I can see all you do is insult people. What a retard
      
      Pot calling kettle !!!!!!
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Greevar (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 7:41pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      And I see you take my comments without context. My insults are typically replies in kind to other insulting comments. Nobody said that Porsche did the servicing for free prior to my comment. That changes things a bit.
      
      As for not having valid arguments, they are quite valid if the dealer charges for servicing the car.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - darryl, 25 Jun 2011 @ 5:21am
    
    Re: Re: Do you realize how stupid you look ?
    so you would happily fly in a jet aircraft, that was "fixed" by some 'handyman' they found off the street ?
    
    If you honestly believe manufacturers design their products to make it hard to maintain you have rocks in your head.
    
    Or if you believe that cars for example, are made to be hard to pull apart and hard for someone to perform their own maintenance, then you have NEVER performed ANY maintenance of a car.
    
    Or you are a complete clutz.
    
    designing any car that is easy to build (and they ALL ARE) then by definition they are equally easy to pull apart.
    
    Again, clearly you are the type of person who simply has no clue about reality.
    
    And zero mechanic aptitude.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Kaden (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 8:52am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Do you realize how stupid you look ?
      I invite you to attempt servicing any recent BMW or Mercedes product without a *substantial* investment in crucial manufacturer-specific tools. You'd better bring a change of clothing or two, because you'll be a very long time indeed.
      
      Also: You are an idiot.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
TWiT, 24 Jun 2011 @ 8:14pm

1995 rootkit, anyone? I still have it on an old HDD. But apparently if I do anything to it I'm the criminal?!
According to Sony, I am. And they STILL owe me money for the new drive.
;-]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Wulfman (profile), 24 Jun 2011 @ 9:34pm

LOL
I see it's 2 tards attacking one another. Nice.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Nicedoggy, 24 Jun 2011 @ 10:49pm

I just love those 2 little balls :)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 11:14pm
  
  Re:
  This isn't a porn site.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Nicedoggy, 25 Jun 2011 @ 12:21am
    
    Re: Re:
    What a dirty mind you have Sir(Miss?).
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 24 Jun 2011 @ 11:44pm

There is only one thing broken here, and it isn't technology.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
darryl, 25 Jun 2011 @ 5:05am

Cant be fixed !!! yea right.
as a person who has had and is having a very successful career fixing what you laughingly call "locked up" without a problem.

WITH NEVER A PROBLEM !

I guess that is just the difference between reality and Nina.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
darryl, 25 Jun 2011 @ 5:37am

"NO ONE CAN FIX IT"
Mabey, (but they can), but far more importantly, and why some components are 'sealed' is this:

NO ONE CAN BREAK IT

It can be fixed, but it cannot be fixed by someone without the skills and correct tools to effect the fix.

If it is not fixed by a suitabilly qualified and certified person using the correct techniques and tools, and following the exact set out proceedures then no matter how it works after the "repair" it is NOT fixed, or in a servicable condition.

That is just reality, its just the way it is, it stops things from being "fixed" by someone who will do more damage than good, and make the equipment useless at best, and dangerous at worse.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Marcus Carab (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 8:57am
  
  Re: "NO ONE CAN FIX IT"
  Uh, no. Because if I want to go to a cheap, unlicensed, crappy repairman, that's my right as an idiot.
  
  See, that's the thing darryl - the law shouldn't legislate good decision-making. If I buy something, I own it. It's mine. I should be free to take it to anyone for repair: a certified pro, an amateur, my friend the hobbyist, or my own workbench for some tinkering. They may not always be good ideas but they shouldn't be illegal ideas.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 25 Jun 2011 @ 11:28am
    
    Re: Re: "NO ONE CAN FIX IT"
    Does the law really legislate decision making in the US? Seriously? Are law makers so stupid they need to protect themselves?
    
    Regardless, keeping up with the car example, you do own it once you buy it. You can rip it apart and build it back up. Just don't expect them to honor any sort of warranty if you don't follow their rules. After all, they're the ones selling it to you. If you're not happy, you're free to go make bad decisions with another company.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - The eejit (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 2:06pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: "NO ONE CAN FIX IT"
      You must be new to American Exceptionalism.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 27 Jun 2011 @ 11:38am
      
      Re: Re: Re: "NO ONE CAN FIX IT"
      Regardless, keeping up with the car example, you do own it once you buy it. You can rip it apart and build it back up.
      
      So anyone can say, tune the computer controlled fuel injectors of many modern cars when there's a problem? Nope. Need a special tool to interface with the onboard computer, and its encrypted and won't respond unless it gets the right response.
      
      You remember back when Toyotas were having issues with the brakes and accelerators? Would it surprise you that there was only one single diagnosing machine in the entire US that could read what the data recorder said?
      
      So why aren't tools that can read that stuff available? The manufacturers won't sell them publicly. Anyone else who tries making and supplying them gets slapped with a DMCA anti-circumvention copyright lawsuit.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- techflaws.org (profile), 25 Jun 2011 @ 10:09pm
  
  pathetic
  NO ONE CAN BREAK IT
  
  Dude, can you get more delusional?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 25 Jun 2011 @ 5:47am

Nina, you should lock up your technology. Your gifs have heartbeats. You could make millions suing!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 27 Jun 2011 @ 10:56am

One of the few comics by Nina that I have enjoyed.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]