Edgar M. Bronfman Jr., Get Your Head out Of the Sand!

Dear Mr. Bronfman,

You have been a long time proponent of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM). Yet DRM has probably done more damage to the music industry and to consumer confidence in the products Warner Music sells than anything else.

Do you understand why? Do you understand that trying to impose Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) on citizens is unethical? Can you understand that your attempt to take control of our computers and electronic devices to further your agenda makes us angry?

The problem for DRM proponents like you is that DRM doesn't work as advertised - and you are helping perpetuate a lie. It's a lie that DRM stops counterfeiting - it doesn't. What it does do is trample my rights and creates a situation where, if I were to circumvent a DRM scheme to be in control of my computer, it would be a criminal act - thanks to legislation like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Legislation that Warner lobbied for.

So what does DRM do? First, it monitors what I do, Often, it reports on my activities to a central authority. It locks me to one vendor of software. It limits what I do with the stuff i own. DRM typically drives up the cost of the hardware, shortens battery life, and it usually degrades overall performance. I end up with a defective product on a defective device.

It's fans who buy music and video - remember?

I am intent on spreading this message about DRM and casting Warner Music products as Defective until you drop DRM.

Do you still have Warner Music's head stuck in the sand?

I'm writing to suggest you take it out.