Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by jonhendry on Tuesday January 14, 2014 @11:09PM
(#7061623)
"The price of a good programming book is about £20. "
If only we had a global computer network by which you could find a much cheaper used copy. Or even a free loaner copy.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by jscheel on Tuesday January 14, 2014 @01:39PM
(#7058812)
I will agree with you that it's definitely important for products to be priced appropriately for the region they are sold in. And, I understand that access to information can be a huge roadblock, which is why it's important for people to free up information as best as possible. Still, when you consider things like public libraries, free access to internet, etc., you have to question whether or not you have really tried to do it without pirating someone else.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by duncan_bayne on Tuesday January 14, 2014 @03:57PM
(#7059660)
Really? How about turning that around: how is it okay for me to pay more for something, solely because I live in a different country?
This is known as the 'Australian Tax' here, and is at the point where for some software products (Microsoft's dev tools, e.g.) it's cheaper to buy a budget flight to the USA, buy them there, then return.
Geographical pricing is morally indefensible.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by jscheel on Tuesday January 14, 2014 @04:36PM
(#7059911)
I'm talking about lowering the cost in areas to match the economy. I too think the cost of software in Australia is crazy.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by duncan_bayne on Tuesday January 14, 2014 @05:13PM
(#7060164)
They are the same thing. The exact same thing. All you're quibbling about is that you don't like where the pricing is set for the region in which you live.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by jscheel on Wednesday January 15, 2014 @09:48AM
(#7063582)
Huh? I'm not quibbling about anything. You brought it up, not me. I'm perfectly happy where pricing is at in my region. It's commiserate with the general economy. Nothing is disproportionately priced here. Some areas seem to be out of sync with their economy, either high or low.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by duncan_bayne on Tuesday January 21, 2014 @06:29PM
(#7099439)
Indeed - and if things get too far out of sync, it becomes worthwhile to import things from countries where they aren't. Except that such free trade is often prohibited by law.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by jscheel on Wednesday January 15, 2014 @09:58AM
(#7063645)
And I sure as heck don't justify stealing just because you don't like the price.
Re:Requirements for DRM in HTML are confidential
by duncan_bayne on Tuesday January 21, 2014 @06:28PM
(#7099435)
Well, yes. I think we're in agreement there.
However what about books or scientific papers which are hidden behind pay walls or just incredibly expensive.
The price of a good programming book is about £20. But when your monthly income is £300 that is a lot of money. Not to mention you have to pay electricity, gas, etc. and the prices for the utilities are not that much different.
So your options are:
1. buy the book and not eat for 2 weeks
2. pirate it
3. don't do anything and let your progress as a programmer be hindered by the lack of knowledge
That's what i call being forced. There's no situation where i can say i helped the author with the little i have and progressed in my development as a programmer.
If you give in to the system they set up knowledge become the privilege of the wealthy I agree that content creators need to live but the one size fits all approach is really f*ed up.
Open it up let people pay as much as they want or set different prices for different regions piracy will fall considerably if you do and for god sake don't limit peoples access to content by regions it's a sure way to increase piracy.