FairUse4WM

An article on Engadget discusses FairUse4WM, a program to strip DRM from PlaysForSure Windows Media files. While I feel that license-holders are imposing draconian terms for their media, this opinion sums up the morality of the issue quite well:

I know what's wrong with the system: content providers overcharge for subpar quality content. And the peoples' response is "I'm not paying $15 for garbage."

The thing is, it is the content providers' RIGHT to determine the price they think is fair for their product. If the people don't agree, they don't have the right to just take it without paying. If the content providers give a little and say, ok, we'll sell it to you for $12 but with these restrictions, it is NOT OK for the people to say "ok" and then strip off the restrictions. Either pay the $15 for unrestricted content or realize that if it isn't worth it to you, don't just take it. Say "No, that's crap. Change your pricing scheme because I won't pay $15 for crap." If there were no piracy and no one was paying $15, don't you think the content providers would lower the price to move SOME of their product? Yes. Because that is the law of supply and demand. But if people keep going around the established means, the content providers can say "Hey, our price is at $15, but all these pirates are getting it for free! Our model is legit and these rapscallions are just criminals! Please help Mr. Congressman!"

I've said it before and I'll say it again: You have no right to be entertained. If you're not willing to pay the set price, then don't buy it.

The same thing can be said of software, and that's long been my viewpoint. The difference in the case of software is that businesses will still buy overpriced crap software, and individuals tend to prefer to use at home what they use at work. Personally, I think the price of software is outrageous, particularly since there's essentially no warranty and licensing typically restricts use to one computer. Of course, one doesn't have to buy it, but in that case the software will still sell, propped up by B2B sales.