[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I'm not sure if you saw my late edit or not, but it's pretty much the same thing (I think) as what you're saying.

I think the cell phone makers should compete against other cell phone makers to make the best cell phones they can.

I think service providers should compete against other service providers to provide the best services (incl plans and prices) they can.

I think consumers should be able to purchase a cell phone of their choice from a maker of their choice, and then acquire a plan of their choice from a provider of their choice.

I also think that service providers should not be allowed to lock customers into long term plans with cancellation fees, as this just adds to the complacency of the entire industry.

So, from what I have read about your posts today:

1) It is fine for music labels to lock content to specific formats.

Originally Posted by FanIn80

If I make a CD and I (for some stupid reason) decide I only want it played on CD players... should I not have that right? I made it, it's my work. I should be allowed to decide how it's listened to.

2) You think it should phone companies should not be allowed to lock phones to their service.

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Personally, I think it should be illegal to LOCK cellphones. That way there are no exclusivity agreements and carriers are forced to rely on their prices and service in order to get (and keep) customers, rather than just getting a phone that no one else has and then locking people into 3 year contracts while they kick the crap out of them.

See, I see those as essentially the same darn things. I think if I have paid for the product, that I should be allowed to what I want with the product I have purchased.

Be it a CD I want to play on my MP3 player, a DVD I want to rip to an iPod, or a cell phone I want to use on Bell/Telus/Virgin or whomever.

Once I have paid for the product, why the heck should the company that sold it to me be able to tell me what I am allowed to do with it?