Comments on: Learning From The Past: How DRM Failed in Australia http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/ PR Social Media Video Games Technology Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:48:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Hamlet http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-353 Hamlet Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:04:00 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-353 "I’m sorry but that is simply not true. Australia might be geographically isolated but nevertheless already had close ties to the US back in the 1920s and was engaging in a steady exchange of goods and ideas (aided by the telegraph). American movies were flooding the market, American consumerism stated to shape Australian dreamscapes, part of the Australian constitution and even the idea of dog licences was copied from the US." I'm in Europe and a few days ago i was watching Kevin Rudd's victory speech (he's the new prime minister)in real time in Bbc world (without a satellite dish). Do you know what i mean? I don't think that in 20's after 5 minutes people in Europe could know the winner of austrialian elections. "Could please elaborate what you mean by building a theory of social change with technology in connection with this post? And why it exactly matters who stands behind what?" There are people who study the interaction between technology and society. You can read the theory called SCOT (Social construction of technology) or you can read the book "Of bicycles, bakelites and bulbs: Toward a Theory of Sociotechnical Change" written by Wiebe Bijker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction_of_technology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiebe_Bijker “I’m sorry but that is simply not true. Australia might be geographically isolated but nevertheless already had close ties to the US back in the 1920s and was engaging in a steady exchange of goods and ideas (aided by the telegraph). American movies were flooding the market, American consumerism stated to shape Australian dreamscapes, part of the Australian constitution and even the idea of dog licences was copied from the US.”

I’m in Europe and a few days ago i was watching Kevin Rudd’s victory speech (he’s the new prime minister)in real time in Bbc world (without a satellite dish). Do you know what i mean? I don’t think that in 20’s after 5 minutes people in Europe could know the winner of austrialian elections.

“Could please elaborate what you mean by building a theory of social change with technology in connection with this post? And why it exactly matters who stands behind what?”

There are people who study the interaction between technology and society. You can read the theory called SCOT (Social construction of technology) or you can read the book “Of bicycles, bakelites and bulbs: Toward a Theory of Sociotechnical Change” written by Wiebe Bijker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction_of_technology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiebe_Bijker

]]> By: Jens http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-352 Jens Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:37:30 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-352 Hi Hamlet, "August 1922 means just few months before they started in Australia, therefore there wasn’t a business model that was a reference for everybody. In 20’s, without tv and without Internet, things were changing slowly, not like now" I'm sorry but that is simply not true. Australia might be geographically isolated but nevertheless already had close ties to the US back in the 1920s and was engaging in a steady exchange of goods and ideas (aided by the telegraph). American movies were flooding the market, American consumerism stated to shape Australian dreamscapes, part of the Australian constitution and even the idea of dog licences was copied from the US. So I'm pretty sure that Australia was able to follow the discussions that accompanied the introduction of radio into the US (and quite frankly: considering the prevalent political philosophy in the US the idea of free enterprise was pretty much a no brainer). The ties with Britain were even closer, after all Australia watched the world through London's eyes making it very likely that the idea of a public broadcaster was already heard of. The fact that Australia was aware of what was going on in the world is also evidenced by the fact that the A and B station scheme, introduced right after the failed sealed set scheme, the is pretty much a combination of both the British and American system. Also: Could please elaborate what you mean by building a theory of social change with technology in connection with this post? And why it exactly matters who stands behind what? It's early in the morning and I can't quite comprehend yet what you mean ;-) Hi Hamlet,

“August 1922 means just few months before they started in Australia, therefore there wasn’t a business model that was a reference for everybody. In 20’s, without tv and without Internet, things were changing slowly, not like now”

I’m sorry but that is simply not true. Australia might be geographically isolated but nevertheless already had close ties to the US back in the 1920s and was engaging in a steady exchange of goods and ideas (aided by the telegraph). American movies were flooding the market, American consumerism stated to shape Australian dreamscapes, part of the Australian constitution and even the idea of dog licences was copied from the US. So I’m pretty sure that Australia was able to follow the discussions that accompanied the introduction of radio into the US (and quite frankly: considering the prevalent political philosophy in the US the idea of free enterprise was pretty much a no brainer).
The ties with Britain were even closer, after all Australia watched the world through London’s eyes making it very likely that the idea of a public broadcaster was already heard of.
The fact that Australia was aware of what was going on in the world is also evidenced by the fact that the A and B station scheme, introduced right after the failed sealed set scheme, the is pretty much a combination of both the British and American system.

Also: Could please elaborate what you mean by building a theory of social change with technology in connection with this post? And why it exactly matters who stands behind what? It’s early in the morning and I can’t quite comprehend yet what you mean ;-)

]]> By: Hamlet http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-351 Hamlet Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:24:26 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-351 "Does it matter eventually who enforces DRM respectively who’s behind the whole idea?" Well, if you want to "build" a theory of social change with technology (for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction_of_technology) it matters. "The US, where the first regular commercial broadcast commenced on August 28 1922" August 1922 means just few months before they started in Australia, therefore there wasn't a business model that was a reference for everybody. In 20's, without tv and without Internet, things were changing slowly, not like now. “Does it matter eventually who enforces DRM respectively who’s behind the whole idea?”

Well, if you want to “build” a theory of social change with technology (for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction_of_technology)
it matters.

“The US, where the first regular commercial broadcast commenced on August 28 1922″

August 1922 means just few months before they started in Australia, therefore there wasn’t a business model that was a reference for everybody. In 20’s, without tv and without Internet, things were changing slowly, not like now.

]]> By: schredd http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-362 schredd Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:16:13 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-362 Hi Matt, good call. On the other hand payTV offers an extra service that you consciously engage with while basic TV services remain free. You have the choice - with the sealed set scheme you had not. Hi Matt,

good call. On the other hand payTV offers an extra service that you consciously engage with while basic TV services remain free. You have the choice - with the sealed set scheme you had not.

]]> By: Matt Canavan http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-363 Matt Canavan Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:54:38 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-363 How is this plan any different than the encryption used by payTV channels? You have to buy specific equipment that is locked to a particular broadcaster and this system seems to have worked well in many countries so I don’t think there are any general lessons here. How is this plan any different than the encryption used by payTV channels? You have to buy specific equipment that is locked to a particular broadcaster and this system seems to have worked well in many countries so I don’t think there are any general lessons here.

]]> By: schredd http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-361 schredd Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:24:02 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-361 Thanks for your interest in my post. In regards to your post: I have to disagree with you about "that nobody knew in which direction the business could lead". The US, where the first regular commercial broadcast commenced on August 28 1922, from the beginning embraced radio as free enterprise with stations competing against each other for the good of the consumer. In England, as a product of a real distrust of the power of broadcasting to debase cultural standards, the BBC was taking shape. It commenced broadcasting in 1923. In short: There were to established models Australia could have adapted but didn't due to industry pressure and the apathy of the government. Interesting point about the manufactures. On the other hand: Does it matter eventually who enforces DRM respectively who's behind the whole idea? It is still the same principle. As someone on BoingBoing commented: "it's the same sort of 'you can only use our content on our device, even though you're the one paying. oh and you can't change it to work better either'": The industry is crippling technology because it fears for its revenue, a strategy that is bound to fail. Thanks for your interest in my post.

In regards to your post:

I have to disagree with you about “that nobody knew in which direction the business could lead”. The US, where the first regular commercial broadcast commenced on August 28 1922, from the beginning embraced radio as free enterprise with stations competing against each other for the good of the consumer. In England, as a product of a real distrust of the power of broadcasting to debase cultural standards, the BBC was taking shape. It commenced broadcasting in 1923. In short: There were to established models Australia could have adapted but didn’t due to industry pressure and the apathy of the government.
Interesting point about the manufactures. On the other hand: Does it matter eventually who enforces DRM respectively who’s behind the whole idea? It is still the same principle. As someone on BoingBoing commented: “it’s the same sort of ‘you can only use our content on our device, even though you’re the one paying. oh and you can’t change it to work better either’”: The industry is crippling technology because it fears for its revenue, a strategy that is bound to fail.

]]> By: Hamlet http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-360 Hamlet Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:48:46 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-360 I don't really agree about the comparison between DRM and 20's in Australia and i explained that here http://technosoc.blogspot.com/2007/12/wrong-business-about-radio.html I don’t really agree about the comparison between DRM and 20’s in Australia and i explained that here http://technosoc.blogspot.com/2007/12/wrong-business-about-radio.html

]]> By: schredd http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-359 schredd Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:54:20 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-359 Sure. These were my resources: Harte, Bernard: When Radio Was the Cat's Whiskers Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing, 2002 Barnard, Alan: AWA, the Radio Traders And the Government in Early Radio. In: Moran, Albert (ed.): Stay Tuned. An Australian Broadcast Reader
Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1992 Counihan, Mick: Official History and the B-Class Stations. In: Moran, Albert (ed.): Stay Tuned. An Australian Broadcast Reader
Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1992 Also useful: Walker, R.R.: The Magic Spark. The Story of the First Fifty Years of Radio In Australia Melbourne: The Hawthorn Press, 1973 and the standard work... Inglis, Kenneth Stanley: This is the ABC. The Australian Broadcasting Commission 1932-1983 (2nd edition) Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2006 Sure. These were my resources:

Harte, Bernard: When Radio Was the Cat’s Whiskers
Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing, 2002

Barnard, Alan: AWA, the Radio Traders And the Government in Early Radio. In: Moran, Albert (ed.): Stay Tuned. An Australian Broadcast Reader
Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1992

Counihan, Mick: Official History and the B-Class Stations. In: Moran, Albert (ed.): Stay Tuned. An Australian Broadcast Reader
Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1992

Also useful:

Walker, R.R.: The Magic Spark. The Story of the First Fifty Years of Radio In Australia

Melbourne: The Hawthorn Press, 1973

and the standard work…

Inglis, Kenneth Stanley: This is the ABC. The Australian Broadcasting Commission 1932-1983 (2nd edition)
Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2006

]]> By: Hamlet http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-358 Hamlet Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:26:55 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-358 Barnard, 1992; Counihan, 1992; Harte, 2002 Can i know what you're quoting? I don't think that today the situation of DRM is similar to the radio in Australia on 20's. A lot of things were too different Barnard, 1992; Counihan, 1992; Harte, 2002

Can i know what you’re quoting?

I don’t think that today the situation of DRM is similar to the radio in Australia on 20’s. A lot of things were too different

]]> By: Casey http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-355 Casey Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:13:14 +0000 http://blogcampaigning.com/2007/12/04/learning-from-the-past-how-drm-failed-in-australia/#comment-355 Strikingly similar to the state of affairs with the mobile phone industry -- SIM locks, outrageous fees, contract lock-in. Strikingly similar to the state of affairs with the mobile phone industry — SIM locks, outrageous fees, contract lock-in.

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