If you have one of the hot new game consoles (Wii or PS3) then you’ve probably heard about the blinking screen problem. It seems that with certain televisions, after a time the screen would start to blink on and off, making the console unusable. Now the folks at Popular Mechanics have discovered the source of the problem. Once again, a scheme on the part of hardware and software manufacturers that assumes users are thieves has caused a problem for legitimate, honest users.

There are several lessons that come from this particular set of circumstances. First, if you’re going to have any process that depends on the timing of signals between hardware from different vendors, you’d better make darned sure that every vendor commits to fulfilling the timing requirements. Next, if you’re going to ship a product that includes firmware, you should have a simple field-updating process in place before you ship the first unit to customers.

Finally, I’m going to give away my secret plan for the ultimate copy protection plan. Ready? Create content that people are willing to pay for. There it is. Lots of artists and musicians find this plan works quite well. It’s positive, not subject to technological revolution, and places no undue burden on your users (or customers, or fans). Any content distribution scheme built on the assumption that everyone who pays for content is, at heart, a lying thief, deserves the failure it will ultimately find. Most of the content moguls know this, which explains the time they spend in Washington, D.C.: they want the government to slow their march to failure by limiting their customers’ ability to choose options.

What can consumers do about it? Try saying “no”. Don’t buy products that come with stupid, restrictive technology built in. Support artists and technologies that treat you (the person who gives them money and lets them pay the rent) as a supporter instead of an enemy. And speak up–write a letter, especially to your elected representatives. Let them know that your rights matter just as much as the rights of media companies. They really do, you know.

Categories: Entertainment, Media