4 ms·

>DRM has never been important for online video workflow Yes it has. Always.

Spivak 10y ago
No it hasn't. It's just been a demand from media execs that distribution networks are forced to implement. Netflix is competing with free and winning -- they've created something that's actually more convenient than piracy. I can already download everything on Netflix from my friendly local piracy site, but I don't because the eight bucks a month is worth less than the time I would waste pirating it. Hell, Netflix could put a download button next to all their content and I bet it wouldn't affect piracy. The value isn't in the content but the distribution network that's so good even pirates can't compete with it.
- rm_-rf_slash 10y ago
  Absolutely. The only case where (I prefer to call it "morally ambiguous streaming") wins is in series with ongoing seasons. But Netflix is so fast and convenient, I usually end up waiting for it to appear on Netflix, or rewatching it there.
- mikk14 10y ago
  Meh. Netflix would not affect piracy because their offer is very small. Netflix is good if you're an American and not very into movies. As soon as you are looking for something outside the "very mainstream" you're out of luck. Your "I can already download everything on Netflix from my friendly local piracy site" works, but the other way around doesn't. I've been a Netflix user for years, but I'm on the verge of unsubscribing, because I realized that since January I've only watched House of Cards.
  - duaneb 10y ago
    They offer more than any comparable service.
  - gshulegaard 10y ago
    > Netflix would not affect piracy because their offer is very small. I question this assertion as Netflix used to use torrent trends as a decision input for deciding what content to purchase: https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-uses-pirate-sites-to-determine-what-shows-to-buy-130914/ https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-uses-pirate-sites-to-determ... I can also offer anecdotal evidence that the piracy rates of my college social network dramatically decreased as the affordability and content quality of Netflix increased. Netflix is being squeezed by media publishers which is why they started publishing their own content. I still hope that streaming services like Netflix will win and reshape the market...but it is a difficult fight. On the note of you only having watched "House of Cards", there are a bunch of Netflix shows I could recommend for you if you're interested. "Peaky Blinders" comes to mind immediately since we are due for another season at the end of this month.
PhasmaFelis 10y ago
DRM is important to online video in the same sense that a wrecked fuel tanker on the highway is important to your morning commute.
supergreg 10y ago
Would there be more piracy of online video had no DRM? It only takes one person to try hard enough to rip a video and put it on a torrent. Conversely, I don't think removing DRM would increase viewers (not that many would not watch a movie they want to see due to their thoughts about DRM), but at least the providers could save a bit of money without it.
- AnthonyMouse 10y ago
  > Conversely, I don't think removing DRM would increase viewers (not that many would not watch a movie they want to see due to their thoughts about DRM) My TV provider recently "upgraded" the interface on their set top boxes to one that is so slow and poorly laid out that I've just stopped watching two premium channel shows because it now takes five minutes to navigate to the point that I can watch anything, and am going to stop subscribing to those channels. This is DRM costing them viewers and money.
- duaneb 10y ago
  I do think removing DRM would increase viewers in the long term: the data has always been the valuable part, and opening it allows innovation in interface, suggestions, and integrations. Unfortunately, it seems like netflix's desire to open their catalogue at all decreases year after year. Their competitors are even worse in this respect.

No it hasn't. It's just been a demand from media execs that distribution networks are forced to implement. Netflix is competing with free and winning -- they've created something that's actually more convenient than piracy. I can already download everything on Netflix from my friendly local piracy site, but I don't because the eight bucks a month is worth less than the time I would waste pirating it. Hell, Netflix could put a download button next to all their content and I bet it wouldn't affect piracy. The value isn't in the content but the distribution network that's so good even pirates can't compete with it.

rm_-rf_slash 10y ago
Absolutely. The only case where (I prefer to call it "morally ambiguous streaming") wins is in series with ongoing seasons. But Netflix is so fast and convenient, I usually end up waiting for it to appear on Netflix, or rewatching it there.
mikk14 10y ago
Meh. Netflix would not affect piracy because their offer is very small. Netflix is good if you're an American and not very into movies. As soon as you are looking for something outside the "very mainstream" you're out of luck. Your "I can already download everything on Netflix from my friendly local piracy site" works, but the other way around doesn't. I've been a Netflix user for years, but I'm on the verge of unsubscribing, because I realized that since January I've only watched House of Cards.
- duaneb 10y ago
  They offer more than any comparable service.
- gshulegaard 10y ago
  > Netflix would not affect piracy because their offer is very small. I question this assertion as Netflix used to use torrent trends as a decision input for deciding what content to purchase: https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-uses-pirate-sites-to-determine-what-shows-to-buy-130914/ https://torrentfreak.com/netflix-uses-pirate-sites-to-determ... I can also offer anecdotal evidence that the piracy rates of my college social network dramatically decreased as the affordability and content quality of Netflix increased. Netflix is being squeezed by media publishers which is why they started publishing their own content. I still hope that streaming services like Netflix will win and reshape the market...but it is a difficult fight. On the note of you only having watched "House of Cards", there are a bunch of Netflix shows I could recommend for you if you're interested. "Peaky Blinders" comes to mind immediately since we are due for another season at the end of this month.

PhasmaFelis 10y ago

DRM is important to online video in the same sense that a wrecked fuel tanker on the highway is important to your morning commute.

supergreg 10y ago

Would there be more piracy of online video had no DRM? It only takes one person to try hard enough to rip a video and put it on a torrent. Conversely, I don't think removing DRM would increase viewers (not that many would not watch a movie they want to see due to their thoughts about DRM), but at least the providers could save a bit of money without it.

AnthonyMouse 10y ago
> Conversely, I don't think removing DRM would increase viewers (not that many would not watch a movie they want to see due to their thoughts about DRM) My TV provider recently "upgraded" the interface on their set top boxes to one that is so slow and poorly laid out that I've just stopped watching two premium channel shows because it now takes five minutes to navigate to the point that I can watch anything, and am going to stop subscribing to those channels. This is DRM costing them viewers and money.
duaneb 10y ago
I do think removing DRM would increase viewers in the long term: the data has always been the valuable part, and opening it allows innovation in interface, suggestions, and integrations. Unfortunately, it seems like netflix's desire to open their catalogue at all decreases year after year. Their competitors are even worse in this respect.