Losing the Ownership Society

This is something that has and likely will effect both the political arena and gaming realm. What we are experiencing right now is more and more of control, which previously consumers had, is going to corporations.

Part of the problem is copyright protection. Ever since mass media has been sold, pirates have bootleged its content. Before the broadband Internet, it was only a guy on the street. Now it isn't difficult to distribute because of the Internet. Suddenly, one could distribute digital media either though a website or on a P2P network.
But the Internet has also encouraged the loss of consumers' rights because it eliminate the middleman: the hardware. By not needing to use a disk to play music or a game, companies can now start enforcing certain uses for it's products. While many are actually more of a good thing for consumers (Steam updating its games), others can be very negative to almost all consumers (read: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

).
One problem that is comming about in the House is the Broadcast Flag, a means of preventing piracy. Unfortunatly, the Broadcast Flag also breaks many common features the the average consumer knows and love. The new version appearently goes farther then the first version (read: http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/01/hollywood_after_the_.html).
Recently, Tivos have put in a switch in which if a network wants to, they could force a recorded program to be deleted from the Tivo after 7 or so days. Also recently, some printer-ink companies are putting a End User Licencing Agreement (EULA) which stipulates that you can't use a refiller for the cartridge; you have to buy a new ink cartridge every time.

One model that is popping up is the subscription model. The newly formed Napster now states that you can only listen to its music IF you pay the subscription fee. This also means that you are limited to what you can do with THEIR music.
ITunes has it so then when you download a song, you buy and own that song. You can put it on a disk or iPod. There's no restriction. The only restriction (that I at least know of) is how many computers your account is tied to. The songs don't have that restriction.

One of the most annoying things that one has to look at now is the EULA. Mostly you will find your generic Dont Pirate type language, but every now and then something bothersome does come along. World of Warcraft was recently discovered to have a type of spyware program on it. At least the initial reason for it was to prevent cheaters.

When President Bush was talking about the "ownership society", he mostly limited it to Social Security and savings in scope. But we are on the verge of losing what we have known, loved, and taken for granted. Just being able to watch a program on a recording has helped ratings, not hindered them. Being able to make backup copies of your CDs will go if the RIAA has anything to do with it. Playing games won't be a one-time fee as it has been, but subscription along with the regular fee-even for non-MMOs. That Video iPod you have-the MPAA won't let use put your DVD movies onto it. And the computer will be most effected, since open programs will now be closed-as in closed down.
There are two enemies in breaking you rights, the ones you have when you own something. The first is lobbists like the RIAA and the MPAA. Those are the people who don't care about improving technology or your experience, as long as they get more money in the end. In the name of preventing piracy, they not only would limit and break your rights, but squelch any newcommers into the business.
The second are those who force subscription services. One thing my parents did was get a DVR without the need of a Tivo subscription. Judging by recent events, that was a good move on their part.
One speculation is that Microsoft would love to go into the anti-spyware business, since that would basicly mean you now have to pay for Windows updates. On a similar note, anti-virus programs do another sneaky thing: make the program only half work. Without updates, you're screwed.
I want to keep it so then I don't have to pay continual fees to have my programs. I want to have my World of Warcraft work on all servers, not just the official servers.

Overall, I just want to own things. I want the ability to copy them, to watch them, to use it the way I have always been using it. I am not avocating piracy, but I don't want to turn on my computer tomarrow and find Steam won't work unless I pay Valve, or my MP3 player can't upload new songs. I want to watch my shows on my Tivo anytime I want to, not within a certain time limit. And most of all, I want new technologies to emerge, for new mediums to better our experience.

Message to media corporations: STOP BREAKING MY RIGHTS.