Tech Shout!

On Thursday, Boston-based advocacy group, Free Software Foundation launched an online petition, wherein they asked Bono to support them against copy-protection technologies. The Free Software Foundations said that such Copy-Protection technologies restrict the rights of consumers to freely use the music and art that they have purchased.

Companies such as Apple Computer Inc. and Microsoft Corp. commonly use Digital rights management technology to support the companies’ own business strategies as well as to satisfy the music industry’s concerns about freely available songs over the internet.

As an example, Apple’s DRM technology allows users to copy songs that they have downloaded from its iTunes Music Store onto only five computers at a time.

The Free Software Foundation is also behind the license that is used by the Linux-operating system and other open source software. This foundation is keen to eliminate DRM restrictions through its Defective by Design campaign. The Free Software Foundation argues that more liberal access and usage models will actually help to increase sales by widening the base of art lovers.

The Defective by Design campaign has already held demonstrations outside Apple retail stores and the offices of Recording Industry Association of America. At present, the foundation is circulating an online petition targeting lead singer of U2, Bono whose band also has its own branded Apple iPod music player.

Could the lead singer of U2 become the front man in this grass-root campaign led by Free Software foundation seeking to change how the music industry does business? A representative for Bono did not immediately return a call to comment on this on Thursday.