Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) Crushing Farmers

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2023-04-21 12:43:23 UTC
Modified: 2023-04-21 12:43:23 UTC

Video download link

Summary: The above LibrePlanet panel talk from one month ago speaks about repairs of farm equipment; the panel includes Sick Codes, Kevin Kenney, Elizabeth Chamberlain, and Paul Roberts. The video was uploaded by the FSF less than 3 days ago (slides here; PeerTube link); From the official page: "Farmers large and small in the U.S. are being crushed under the thumb of “BigAg” equipment makers whose late model farm machinery combines sensors, always-on Internet connections, software and Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) to vacuum up and monetize proprietary farm data, while simultaneously preventing farmers from being able to service and repair their own equipment. Farmers who own late model equipment today are required to patronize “authorized” technicians at the expense of independent repair and are forced to pay astronomical prices for even routine maintenance. What’s needed is a way to free farmers from the grip of these monopolies with free software and usurious OEM-operated software ecosystems. This panel will bring together experts on farming and farm equipment, embedded device security and policy (e.g. right to repair) to discuss ways to liberate farmers with free software."

Licence: CC BY SA 4.0

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Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) Crushing Farmers

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