Ban all DRM? Get serious folks…

I was reading a thread on Ed Bott’s blog again about DRM (Digital Rights Management)and media usage rights. This brings a log of questions to light and I find it interesting that no one who is upset at legitimate DRM technology can possibly fathom a solid business model for DRM’s media.

Besides the obvious mentions: Satellite TV, Cable TV, Pay Per View Movies and Software, let’s look at the rest of things that require encryption to make sure products we buy are available without putting the providers out of business.

Imagine if cellular networks were like unsecured WiFi networks. I could buy a handset off of eBay, spoof your number, and make calls all day. Why not? It’s obviously a sinister plot that they make me pay for their product anyway, right?

Somehow people have mixed up the “concept” of DRM with the poor implementations of DRM and decided that DRM must, in all forms, be bad.

Logically, some form of DRM is necessary now that media for the most part is medialess. I couldn’t tell you the last time I bought a CD. I still buy DVDs, but I imaging that will change too when storage and network speed catch up to my impatient nature. I downloaded Superman Returns from Xbox Live the other night and it took almost two days! The result was great, it looked good, but it was too slow. Without DRM it wouldn’t have even been possible.

I think legitimate users only have one true complaint. Portability. The future is going to require a standard format for audio, video and photos that allows rights management as well as portability. I should be able to purchase my DVD (or download it) and transfer it seamlessly to my PSP, PC and iPod video without much effort.

The true problem here is the devices. Apple has their format, Zune has it’s own, PSP has a strange disc you can’t write to… there are just too many types.

Before we all get too excited and comment happy (common, flame me, I am not Kramer, I can take it!) I am not saying I have a solution, I am just saying that before you go lynch Bill Gates for putting DRM technology in Windows, imagine the alternate (for people who don’t steal media that is) a PC that won’t play anything you can buy legally. That obviously is not a solution either.

I don’t think the HDCP bit will be turned on before something better comes along, I don’t really have a problem with audio from iTunes because I have an iPod and use iTunes for my player on my PC anyway, I really only find myself annoyed when I am about to fly somewhere and I really don’t want to pack a bunch of DVDs with me.

In closing, the RIAA is taking their fight too far and alienating consumers, that’s obvious. It’s going to take a joint effort by the likes of Sony, Microsoft, Apple and the major Media owners to come up with a solution that works for everyone and is portable to multiple devices. I think it’s coming, but I am smart enough to not hold my breath.

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