Software as cudgel…

Just finished watching a DVD, and made the mistake of letting it run on into the copyright messages in 20 or so languages that have the effect of rendering every control except the ‘off’ button ineffective.  This goes so against the grain.  Software is supposed to be a tool, not an instrument of control for some corporation to impose their will over that of the individual.  This appears to be increasingly prevalent though.  ‘Digital Rights Management’ – whose rights?  And why do they need managing?  If I buy a DVD, I should have the right to skip through bits I don’t want to watch, not have it hijack my player.  Copyright is being taken to utterly absurd extremes, and software is being used as the instrument of enforcement.  As a consumer I feel insulted.  As a developer, I feel ashamed.