The global voice for consumers La voix des Consommateurs à travers le monde La voz global para la defensa de los consumidores Digital Rights Management

Copyright project In 2005 CIKL successfully conducted a project titled ’Copyright and Access to Knowledge' The main findings were that: Copyright limits access to knowledge in developing countries Although international treaties include exceptions and limitations to copyright to enhance access to knowledge, most countries don't use these provisions fully

In 2005 CIKL successfully conducted a project titled ’Copyright and Access to Knowledge'

The main findings were that:

Copyright limits access to knowledge in developing countries

Although international treaties include exceptions and limitations to copyright to enhance access to knowledge, most countries don't use these provisions fully

Digital Rights Management and A2K In March this year, CIKL extended the copyright project and did a study on Digital Rights Management or DRM. To assess the impact of DRM the office bought 5 e-books and 8 academic articles online The findings were disappointing, like copyright DRM also limits the access to knowledge, the barriers posed by DRM are even higher.

In March this year, CIKL extended the copyright project and did a study on Digital Rights Management or DRM.

To assess the impact of DRM the office bought 5 e-books and 8 academic articles online

The findings were disappointing, like copyright DRM also limits the access to knowledge, the barriers posed by DRM are even higher.

What is DRM DRM controls and manages copyright in a digital world. DRM includes various protection measures: License agreements Technological protection

DRM controls and manages copyright in a digital world.

DRM includes various protection measures:

License agreements

Technological protection

Fortunately, there were not many restrictions on the use of academic articles. Once downloaded they could be copied and printed as many times as the user wanted. The download period was however restricted, some articles were only available for downloading for 24 hours. Academic Journals: user-friendliness

Fortunately, there were not many restrictions on the use of academic articles. Once downloaded they could be copied and printed as many times as the user wanted.

The download period was however restricted, some articles were only available for downloading for 24 hours.

Academic Journals: Price The average price of an academic article is $25 A US citizen has to spend 0.69% of his monthly income to obtain this article Somebody from India or Cambodia, has to spend 41.67% and 75.95% respectively of her monthly income to buy the same article! Some excesses: One article could be bought from different content providers, the price ranged from $29 to $42.36 One article was only one page long and cost $30, meaning a dollar per sentence!

The average price of an academic article is $25

A US citizen has to spend 0.69% of his monthly income to obtain this article

Somebody from India or Cambodia, has to spend 41.67% and 75.95% respectively of her monthly income to buy the same article!

Some excesses:

One article could be bought from different content providers, the price ranged from $29 to $42.36

One article was only one page long and cost $30, meaning a dollar per sentence!

Two of the five books couldn't be printed, not even a page. From two of the five books, nothing could be copied and pasted into another document, not even a word. Four of the five books could be accessed on only a limited number of computers, this number was sometimes as low as three. One book could only be read online and had an expiry date. For $78 a book could be read for only 150 days, after that, access was gone. E-books: user-friendliness

Two of the five books couldn't be printed, not even a page.

From two of the five books, nothing could be copied and pasted into another document, not even a word.

Four of the five books could be accessed on only a limited number of computers, this number was sometimes as low as three.

One book could only be read online and had an expiry date. For $78 a book could be read for only 150 days, after that, access was gone.

Like for academic articles, e-books are unaffordable for consumers in developing countries In developing countries, the price of a hard copy edition is even lower than that for a digital version of the same book An example: Financial Management, Principles and Applications E-books: price

Like for academic articles, e-books are unaffordable for consumers in developing countries

In developing countries, the price of a hard copy edition is even lower than that for a digital version of the same book

An example: Financial Management, Principles and Applications

E-books: price II Comparison of online price with hard-copy price Online price in relation to a country’s living standards

Comparison of online price with hard-copy price

Online price in relation to a country’s living standards

Conclusion The technological protection measures used by copyright holders are very consumer unfriendly The technological protection measures used pose extra barriers to access to knowledge in developing countries Protected content is simply unaffordable for the average consumer in developing countries.

The technological protection measures used by copyright holders are very consumer unfriendly

The technological protection measures used pose extra barriers to access to knowledge in developing countries

Protected content is simply unaffordable for the average consumer in developing countries.

Next steps I: more research Unfortunately, there are more problems. DRM can inflict a consumer's privacy DRM can not accommodate fair use DRM enables the copyright holder to extend its rights beyond what is provided for in national copyright laws

Unfortunately, there are more problems.

DRM can inflict a consumer's privacy

DRM can not accommodate fair use

DRM enables the copyright holder to extend its rights beyond what is provided for in national copyright laws

Next steps II: campaigning Companies Hold them accountable for their appropriation of more rights at the disadvantage of the consumer Make them use DRM in an enabling way in stead of a restricting way. TPMs can also be used to differentiate in price for example Governments Were copyright laws intended to protect the copyright holder from infringement, now copyright laws should protect the consumer in stead.

Companies

Hold them accountable for their appropriation of more rights at the disadvantage of the consumer

Make them use DRM in an enabling way in stead of a restricting way. TPMs can also be used to differentiate in price for example

Governments

Were copyright laws intended to protect the copyright holder from infringement, now copyright laws should protect the consumer in stead.

The global voice for consumers La voix des Consommateurs à travers le monde La voz global para la defensa de los consumidores Thank you for your attention