The Trouble With DRM
DRM stands for digital rights management. It's the technology that record companies love to enforce on mp3 player manufacturers to prevent illegal usage such as copying. At least that's what they like us to think. But is that the truth?
There might be some truth to it -- but only a little bit. In my opinion it's doing a lot more harm than good.
As a Zune owner, I struggle with DRM everyday. As a music lover, I'm thrilled with the Zune Pass music subscription service. For a flat monthly fee of $14.99 I get unlimited access to just about any song released in the music world.
The Zune pass uses DRM to control how, when and where I can play a song. In general, I'm able to live within the restrictions it imposes on me. It allows me to download and listen to music on up to three computers and three Zune's at a time. That's plenty for me and should be for most people.
But what if I want to listen to my Zune pass music in my car? I'm certainly not about to go around driving with headphones in my ears! (At least DRM hasn't made me suicidal just yet.) If I want to listen my Zune in my car I must invest in some extra equipment. The easiest way for me to do this is to buy an FM transmitter. Another way is to upgrade my car stereo so it has an auxiliary input.
"But I already have a CD player? Please Mr. DRM, can I burn a CD to play my Zune pass music in my car? I promise to keep my Zune pass active."
"Sorry. I don't trust you."
"Pretty please?"
"NO."
Zune owners have it great when it comes to music. But how about movies? The Zune Marketplace has recently introduced the ability to buy and rent movies. Awesome!
But wait! The selection stinks! Why can't I find anything that I want to watch?
Can I download movies from iTunes and watch them on my Zune instead? I think I'll have to go and ask Mr. DRM again. Darn!
"Mr. DRM, I'd like to download a movie from iTunes and watch it on my Zune. Will that be ok with you?"
"Sorry, I'm in cahoots with both Apple and Microsoft. Apple wants you to buy an iPod if you want to use the iTunes Movie store. And Microsoft wants you to shop only in the Zune Marketplace."
"Really? Is that even legal?"
"Talk to the hand."
What about that silly 24 hour restriction within which you must finish watching a rented movie, otherwise it expires? Sorry, that just doesn't work for me.
And while iTunes has a great movie selection, I still feel sorry for iPod owners. No music subscription service works with an iPod, courtesy of Mr. DRM. You can't use Napster-to-go or Rhapsody-to-go. And of course you can't use the Zune Pass.
To be fair, it's not really the problem of Mr. DRM. It's the fact that there is a Mr. DRM, a Mrs. DRM and DRM junior. And they don't even belong the same family. What if there was just one DRM technology that all companies shared? You could use iTunes with the Zune Marketplace, subscribe to the Zune pass with an iPod and both Zune and iPod owners would have a selection of music subscription services to choose from.
Well, maybe I'm thinking of utopia and I might not see it in my lifetime.
Actually, I can. I have a secret weapon to fight evil Mr. DRM. It's called DRM removal software and it removes all traces of DRM from any song or movie that attempts to restrict how it's used. Take that, Mr. DRM!
With DRM removal software, I can download movies from iTunes and watch them on my Zune. An iPod owner could subscribe to the Zune pass or any other music subscription service. And there is no longer a time limit restricting when you must finish watching a rented movie.
Don’t get me wrong. I certainly don't advocate piracy and will never use DRM removal software in a way that compromises the intent of the DRM. But until DRM manufacturers can start working together, I think I'll simplify my life by using DRM removal software.
There might be some truth to it -- but only a little bit. In my opinion it's doing a lot more harm than good.
As a Zune owner, I struggle with DRM everyday. As a music lover, I'm thrilled with the Zune Pass music subscription service. For a flat monthly fee of $14.99 I get unlimited access to just about any song released in the music world.
The Zune pass uses DRM to control how, when and where I can play a song. In general, I'm able to live within the restrictions it imposes on me. It allows me to download and listen to music on up to three computers and three Zune's at a time. That's plenty for me and should be for most people.
But what if I want to listen to my Zune pass music in my car? I'm certainly not about to go around driving with headphones in my ears! (At least DRM hasn't made me suicidal just yet.) If I want to listen my Zune in my car I must invest in some extra equipment. The easiest way for me to do this is to buy an FM transmitter. Another way is to upgrade my car stereo so it has an auxiliary input.
"But I already have a CD player? Please Mr. DRM, can I burn a CD to play my Zune pass music in my car? I promise to keep my Zune pass active."
"Sorry. I don't trust you."
"Pretty please?"
"NO."
Zune owners have it great when it comes to music. But how about movies? The Zune Marketplace has recently introduced the ability to buy and rent movies. Awesome!
But wait! The selection stinks! Why can't I find anything that I want to watch?
Can I download movies from iTunes and watch them on my Zune instead? I think I'll have to go and ask Mr. DRM again. Darn!
"Mr. DRM, I'd like to download a movie from iTunes and watch it on my Zune. Will that be ok with you?"
"Sorry, I'm in cahoots with both Apple and Microsoft. Apple wants you to buy an iPod if you want to use the iTunes Movie store. And Microsoft wants you to shop only in the Zune Marketplace."
"Really? Is that even legal?"
"Talk to the hand."
What about that silly 24 hour restriction within which you must finish watching a rented movie, otherwise it expires? Sorry, that just doesn't work for me.
And while iTunes has a great movie selection, I still feel sorry for iPod owners. No music subscription service works with an iPod, courtesy of Mr. DRM. You can't use Napster-to-go or Rhapsody-to-go. And of course you can't use the Zune Pass.
To be fair, it's not really the problem of Mr. DRM. It's the fact that there is a Mr. DRM, a Mrs. DRM and DRM junior. And they don't even belong the same family. What if there was just one DRM technology that all companies shared? You could use iTunes with the Zune Marketplace, subscribe to the Zune pass with an iPod and both Zune and iPod owners would have a selection of music subscription services to choose from.
Well, maybe I'm thinking of utopia and I might not see it in my lifetime.
Actually, I can. I have a secret weapon to fight evil Mr. DRM. It's called DRM removal software and it removes all traces of DRM from any song or movie that attempts to restrict how it's used. Take that, Mr. DRM!
With DRM removal software, I can download movies from iTunes and watch them on my Zune. An iPod owner could subscribe to the Zune pass or any other music subscription service. And there is no longer a time limit restricting when you must finish watching a rented movie.
Don’t get me wrong. I certainly don't advocate piracy and will never use DRM removal software in a way that compromises the intent of the DRM. But until DRM manufacturers can start working together, I think I'll simplify my life by using DRM removal software.
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