Digital rights management (drm) and you

DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (DRM) AND YOUBy Marcin Marszałek

PROBLEM WITH TERMINOLOGY

DRM means different things in different environments: Music/Movies/Games Operating Systems and other software

No one body defines the term

WHAT IS DRM?

Also known as: Copy Protection Copy Control Copy Prevention Digital locks

WHAT IS DRM AS COPY PROTECTION?

Intends to limit copying.

WHAT IS DRM?

Intends to limit copying or access to digital content

WHAT IS DRM?

Intends to limit copying or access to digital content.

Used to protect the rights of the authors, artists, creators, programmers, publishers

HOW DOES DRM WORK?

DRM adds an extra layer of protection around a file

It does so by embedding code Needs a key (license to unlock)

2 GENERATIONS OF DRM

1st generation Limited copying.

2nd generation Limits access (what you can do with) digital

content.

USAGE OF DRM?

DRM is used to limit copying of and access to: Music Ebooks Movies Software

Programs Games

SHORT HISTORY OF DRM

Altair BASIC for Altair 8800

HISTORY OF DRM

Bill Gates’s Open Letter to Hobbyists (1976)

“As the majority of hobbyists must be aware, most of you steal your software. Hardware must be paid for, but software is something to share.”


Bill Gate’s Open Letter to Hobbyists (1976)

“One thing you do do is prevent good software from being written. Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free? The fact is, no one besides us has invested a lot of money in hobby software. “


Floppy disks Paraphrases Code wheel Puzzle solving Code sheets CD-keys

Dongle Pieces of hardware that were plugged to a

computer

SHORT HISTORY OF DRM: MOVING ONLINE

Steam Origin Games for Windows LIVE Uplay iTunes

DRM PROS AND CONS

Pros: Help protect intellectual property from being

stolen: in other words, they prevent piracy (albeit not completely).

Helps transfer content only to authorized consumers.

Complete product and support: since hundreds of man-hours were put into creation of proprietary software, bug fixes etc. are done by the owner of the software. (Maybe?)

DRM PROS AND CONS

Cons: DRM might prevent the possibility of making

backup copies of software. Prevents lending of material Limits materials for research/education under fair

dealing.

DRM PROS AND CONS

Cons: Creates a situation where you potentially have to

pay twice for the same product e.g. if you buy a computer with a copy of Windows and then have to format your computer.

Limits having the same material on multiple devices since not all formats are compatible with or transferable to other devices.

2 FACES OF DRM

1. Limits illegal copying and distribution

2. Sets limits on access of legally obtained materials

RELEVANCE TO LIBRARIES/MUSEUMS/ARCHIVES

2 different DRMs 1. Lending materials 2. Programming software


Can be implemented in digital libraries by: Controlling access to materials through

encryption and watermarking Ensuring the content is accessed only by

authorized consumers and remains unmodified


Limits coding Open software a viable alternative

DRM ALTERNATIVES

The GNU Project Linux Open Source Software Copyleft

DRM ALTERNATIVES

Munich completely open source

DRM FUTURE

Is DRM changing? iTunes DRM-free Gog.com

DRM: ETHICAL ISSUES

Do you own the material you buy? Well, not really!

Can you resell your content? Well, not really!

Can you modify your content? Well, not really!

Where does fair use doctrine fit?

DRM QUESTIONS

1. Is DRM an answer to piracy? Does it create more problems than it solves?

2. Where do you think DRM will take us? Will we forget the idea of ownership for the idea of access? Is ownership relevant in the online world?

Digital rights management (drm) and you

Technology

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