OK.. by now I'm sure you'll have read the news surronding Gizmodo editor Jason Chen and his property seized by California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team. All I can say about it is that's pretty rediculous if you ask me. I don't understand why, with all the attention surronding the leak of the recent iphone v4, that they would want to associate themselves with something like this. Only thing I can understand about it is regarding the sales of current iphones (which by the way seem to have no problems selling as reported in Apple's most recent earnings statement), however it seems a tad - how do you say - dick-headish? Maybe thats just me.. but for all the positive things going for Apple's finances and all the negative things coming from troubled developers from working within their closed systems or having applications approved - it seems like maybe not the smartest time to bring any more news that makes you guys seem like the most evil fucking corporation that you seem to be.

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Ok, I think it's fair to say that DRM is becoming a bit of a annoyance and unnecessary if not trivial practice. Above is an example I recently came across while browsing the webernet, and it serves to illustrate a point. Why as a paying customer, am I subject to a worse experience than that of someone who illegal obtained the materials?

Recently I became a bit of an unwilling participant in this game, and I say that because I fully accept responsibility for my own pool of piss to sit in. A long time ago, I used to be a hobbyist game console programmer and in order to run unsigned code, that resulted in me needing to modify the console. When the Wii first came out, I bought one and later modded it. Nintendo has been one of the largest ass-ambassadors of no mercy (along with the MPAA, RIAA, and many more..), in that they will go after the jugular to anyone threatening their earning potential. I think Nintendo's focus should be more centered around publishing quality titles not just large quantities of garbage, and should revisit their pricing model for games (They aren't pushing many games on best seller lists and probably benefit from setting multiple price tiers/levels) but the focus of this writing is on another topic. So recently I decided to dust my Wii off and play the damn thing (The last time I remember using it I think was almost two years ago.) and I go to pop in the New Super Mario Bros. and it wants me to system update, and flat out telling me it has the potential to shit on my face and brick on me if I installed a mod-chip. Now you have to appreciate that they want to protect themselves against people playing pirated games, but here we are with a legitimate copy I purchased, that I am terrified to play because theres a possibility it will kill my system when it goes to update :( T hanks jerks.

But Nintendo's not alone in this war on consumers, Ubisoft recently got its fair share of bad press for its stupid move but they are just one of many, many countless public relation nightmares caused by the effort to enforce digital rights management the complete opposite way that should be gone about it. If your DRM actually effects the quality of you actually produce and present to your consumer, that speaks volumes in itself. I am convinced there are other smart people out there who can come up with less intrusive or ridiculous ways to implement this strategy as it applies to your content, and if not, then come hire me and I will teach you. Fuck it, I will even give you the information for free just so we all can benefit as a whole.