What can we do to defend consumers from exploitation by companies like Microsoft?

Question

When one takes the DMCA, Microsoft, Adobe, the RIAA, and the MPAA and puts it all together, we end up with an America that is as far from freedom as one could imagine. Everyday our freedom of choice, expression, speech, thought, and press are attacked surreptitiously by organizations that criminalize sharing freely information that is deemed "protected" for commercial exploitation.
Is there any reason that one should have to shell out $300 for Windows Vista when free, open source alternatives exist (even if buy a system without Windows, the manufacturer must make up the cost of the lost sale to Microsoft!)
Is there any reason you shouldn't be allowed to make as many copies of your movies, music, software, etc. as you need to safely protect your data, besides the fact that doing so (even legally) is assumed to be "piracy" and you are punished by restrictive DRM systems that assume your are doing wrong?
These are real issues that affect everyone, and we must fight back for our freedoms!

To Celing Cat,
Good answer, except the point of my question is that it is not a free market system in its current incarnation, as Microsoft (and other companies) use the threat of litigation to keep users from migrating to the system of their choice.

There is nothing stopping you from using Linux. . .except that Microsoft punishes a hardware vendor if it does not sell enough of its Windows licenses, threatens the Linux user base that they may be using "patent-infringing" software, refuses to be open about their own formats and specifications so that Linux and Windows can not be interoperable. . .engages in "embrace, extend, extinguish" tactics with any standard they do not control. . .ally themselves with the RIAA and MPAA to enforce proprietary DRM restrictions on content (you too, Apple). . .an generally using its billions to convince anyone and everyone that paying for their software is a good thing.

The innovations they provide are easily and reproduced. . their power is not.

Answer 1

Wow, that sounds like your cause. Okay but to be the devil's advocate, what's stopping me, a consumer, from using open source software? I could load Linux on there and open office and firefox and a bunch of other freely available software.

The thing is that microsoft is providing products and services that really do have value. Yes there are very aggressive marketing techniques, but for the greater part, the free market system works.

MS cannot stop me from using a mac or linux. Please let's not ask the federal government to grow any bigger so we can regulate these "evil doers" at microsoft.

May the roughest, toughest, meanest, baddest gorrilas succeed and let the pot smokers cry.

Answer 2

consumer exploitation is related to facts , from which consumer not aware. in my opinion vat that govt implies on the shopkeeper they implies on consumer, is also like a consumer exploitation.