iPad is iBad for freedom--sign the petition

Amazon's Kindle Swindle

The Apple iPad uses Digital Restrictions Management in two ways:

• All media in the iTunes store (with the one exception of music) is wrapped in Apple's DRM. That means films, TV shows, movies and audiobooks are locked to Apple's platform, taking away your right to share.
• All applications must be signed by Apple if they are to run, an unprecedented level of control for a general purpose computer. On top of this, Apple can push updates to the device over its wireless connection, letting them add or remove capabilities at any time.

These restrictions make the iPad a particularly dangerous platform for the distribution of news media. Every publisher depends on permission from Apple, and Apple can remotely delete stories after they have been published.

Defective by Design activists are on the ground at the Apple iPad announcement. Check out these photos, and help share them:

• DbD's Steve Jobs welcomes fans
  
• Entering the Apple Restriction Zone
  

Here are some more resources about the iPad, Apple and DRM:

• Our guide to Apple DRM
• The Computer in My Pocket

• FSF press release
• Defective by Design blog post
• Apple iPad spanked with Defective by Design protest

-- The Register

• iPad is nothing more than a golden calf of DRM --Ars Technica
• Apple iPad Arrives Amid Controversy --Information Week
• The Problem with the Apple iPad --Lifehacker
• Apple iPad will Choke Innovation