Comment Gates gets it right (Score 1) 795
It's not what he ment, but comparing DRM to speed bumps is quite apt:
Gates: Well, ignore DRM for a second. Should an artist that creates a great song be paid for that song? That's where you have to start. You don't start with DRM. DRM is just like a speed bump that reminds you whether you're staying within the scope of rights that you have or you don't. So you don't start with DRM. That's like saying, 'Do you believe in speed bumps?' You have to say, 'Should people drive at 80mph in parking lots?' If you think they should, then of course you don't like speed bumps.
Speed bumps are a near perfect comparison with DRM. You see, speed bumps don't actually work. What they do, is cause people to slow down for the bumps and then race to the next one. People drive fast on the street because it feels right. If you actually want people to slow down, you narrow the road and obstruct driver's views so it feels like they need to take things slow. This is the reason the city of Seattle doesn't use speed bumps in nearly all cases. With DRM, the protection gets in the way for a short time, then it pisses people off and they work around it.
Gates: Well, ignore DRM for a second. Should an artist that creates a great song be paid for that song? That's where you have to start. You don't start with DRM. DRM is just like a speed bump that reminds you whether you're staying within the scope of rights that you have or you don't. So you don't start with DRM. That's like saying, 'Do you believe in speed bumps?' You have to say, 'Should people drive at 80mph in parking lots?' If you think they should, then of course you don't like speed bumps.
Speed bumps are a near perfect comparison with DRM. You see, speed bumps don't actually work. What they do, is cause people to slow down for the bumps and then race to the next one. People drive fast on the street because it feels right. If you actually want people to slow down, you narrow the road and obstruct driver's views so it feels like they need to take things slow. This is the reason the city of Seattle doesn't use speed bumps in nearly all cases. With DRM, the protection gets in the way for a short time, then it pisses people off and they work around it.
