Re: W3C mock's users [via Restricted Media Community Group]

> I'm sorry for my (unfortunate) starting words.
> I'm new here and still don't understand how things works on the W3C
> completely.

First, a handful of rich and powerful companies with the ear of both the
Director and CEO of the W3C decide they want DRM in HTML5.  So they
implement an interop system for DRM called EME, and suggest that EME
could become a W3C standard.

The decision that this work is in scope is then made behind closed
doors, without - as far as I can tell - any wider consultation.

Once that decision has been made, and the CEO briefed to use all the
proper propaganda terms ('premium content' indeed), 'consultation'
begins.  This is very limited in scope, intended solely to allow debate
on the best way of implementing DRM interop in HTML5.  

Any attempt to ask that work on EME be halted altogether is met with one
or more of the following:

 - claims that EME is not DRM, despite its sole purpose being interop
 with closed-source, proprietary DRM systems

 - claims that EME is 'more open' than alternatives

 - argument that certain advantages (standardisation of the interop
 layer, better accessibility) are worth sacrificing the W3Cs Open Web
 principles

 - requests for a better design (in other words, we don't acknowledge
 your arguments in favour of stopping work altogether, but we'll listen
 to ideas for a better design)

 - statements that, as the work has been deemed in-scope by the
 director, it's going to happen regardless

 - argument that, because some companies (e.g. Google, Microsoft) are
 forging ahead with their own EME implementations anyway, it's better to
 have that work standardised through the W3C

 - claims that, despite the fact that the Internet is essentially built
 upon Free Software, it's okay to flip the bird at that community and
 embrace a standard that is inimical to Free Software

The usual suspects - e.g. the EFF and the FSF - chime in with their
opinions, either being unaware of or quixotically ignoring the fact that
their protests will fall on deaf ears.

Then, once you fully realise all of the above, you give up in disgust. 
You feel a lingering embarrassment for having once championed
W3C-endorsed standards ("let's ensure our site is standards-compliant,
see, the W3C even provides a validator!"), and resolve not to be so
naive in the future.

See: 

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jun/06/html5-drm-w3c-open-web

... for more details.

-- 
Duncan Bayne
ph: +61 420817082 | web: http://duncan-bayne.github.com/ | skype:
duncan_bayne

I usually check my mail every 24 - 48 hours.  If there's something
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Received on Monday, 19 August 2013 22:52:31 UTC