Stan,
The only time that any manufacturer will do anything for _you_ or _me_ or _any of us_ is when 'rampant abuse' takes place, and they are forced into some corrective action. If folk rely on settings that can be changed, then bigger fool them. If a campaign was mounted, say taking on canon first, to be open about such things, else we don't buy, then pick on Nikon next, say, then maybe we'd get some results. Talking to Chuck, or any representative, you'll just get the company line - one customer doesn't matter... but get a couple of continent's worth, maybe something happens. If its a general conception that exif information is correct, then it certainly needs publicity that it is not correct. If there is documentation from canon or some other company that says this, and its proven that it is not so, then the guys in usa can probably take out a class action, as with epson ink and cf memory cards, etc.
However, in this particular case, I do not think canon has said anything much about the exif info. If they had, then they are stuck, (like qwerty keyboard layout) in a time stamped design, a few years down the road. Just because the 20d uses the 1230th entry for the owner's name. doesn't mean that the 400d should do the same, or even every 400d should do the same - it could be encripted with the serial number for example.
My argument would be with the software companies or others who have put about the fact that they can derive the information, etc., after reverse engineering the exif info. In fact, I expect canon will deliberately screw it up, until it is sorted out as to 'who' actually owns 'what' in the camera. (see the thread re. iso numbers, and others on opf and elsewhere, for example.)
Do you buy the whole camera?. Is its internal firmware licenced, or sold to you? Why do you think its licenced? You buy a car, with computer controlled engine? What happens there? You sell a picture, but don't want folk to copy it, or alter it. What's the difference?
It is a commercial enterprise. If canon could make more money out of selling knitting machines, say, they would do that. There is _no_ loyalty to the customer, unless you are able to spend money. It may be sad, but I fail to see how you can expect anything else, in a consumer/marketting driven world.
Canon, other co's big fear is of India/China/wherever, reverse engineering their stuff. The easy way of overcoming that, is to move fast. The IS lens you buy today, will be replaced with a new version in 18months, before the existing, already five years old technology can be reverse engineered, and sold for its component value. They hype up the brand, latch you into canon, sony, nikon, whoever, and each time you upgrade, you have to buy stuff you needn't, like batteries, remotes, etc., all cash from your pockets into theirs.
You need to understand that, it is almost theft, or is it good business? Depends if you're buying or selling. I wonder why canon got more more money than me?
I think I'd better shut up...
Best wishes,
Ray
