5 ms·

As someone that works for a company with a moderately similar business model as netflix, I can almost guarantee that Netflix is not imposing this DRM by their o

As someone that works for a company with a moderately similar business model as netflix, I can almost guarantee that Netflix is not imposing this DRM by their own volition. It is highly likely that the owners of the rights to their content force the DRM as a condition of allowing their content to be used.

shmerl 9y ago
> I can almost guarantee that Netflix is not imposing this DRM by their own volition. Where can we get their own films and shows DRM-free?
- ksk 9y ago
  How much are you willing to pay for it?
  - shmerl 9y ago
    To pay for something, it should be available first. So it's pointless to ask, if you can't buy it for any price.
    - ksk 9y ago
      Well if a lot of people were willing to pay more for DRM-free, or if people avoided DRM'ed content, it would make business sense to do that. Its easier to effect change from the bottom up, than demanding a company change their policies just because you disagree with them. For example, EMI experimented with selling their entire catalog DRM-free on itunes for 30 cents more per track in 2007. I don't think it turned out well for them. That's the only one I remember off the top of my head. Seems like you're interested in this topic so you may have other examples.
      - shmerl 9y ago
        What makes sense is to offer an option instead of saying "we know better what you should want, so we won't offer it". Music sells just fine DRM-free on Bandcamp. Games sell fine DRM-free on GOG. So I don't see any reason for films to be different. Lack of DRM-free video has nothing to do with lack of demand, but more with paranoia and backwards thinking of some legacy media execs. See https://www.gog.com/forum/general/introducing_gogcom_drmfree_movies/post499 https://www.gog.com/forum/general/introducing_gogcom_drmfree...
        imustbeevil 9y ago
        Developer of The Banner Saga when asked if the second game would be on GOG. > sadly once we released DRM Free for The Banner Saga we saw our game get pirated like wildfire. Which is something we're keen to avoid as much possible. We haven't given it much thought at this point to be honest when it comes to GoG. https://steamcommunity.com/app/281640/discussions/0/392184522702606796/#c392184522702930550 https://steamcommunity.com/app/281640/discussions/0/39218452...
        shmerl 9y ago
        Which is a pretty clueless response. Avoiding GOG will only increase such pirating (by decreasing legal sources for the game). Developers should know better.
        imustbeevil 9y ago
        > Avoiding GOG will only increase such pirating (by decreasing legal sources for the game). Until you provide a single source you're not saying anything worth responding to.
        shmerl 9y ago
        Not sure how those developers measured piracy in general. But piracy is naturally increased by limiting legal sources for buying something. Other developers commented on this very issue, saying that existing DRM increased piracy.
bborud 9y ago
As someone who used to work in a company that was in the streaming business I can confirm that content providers are exceptionally paranoid about the raw content they provide. You spend all your time trying to minimize content provider restrictions and requirements that impact the experience of your users. Want a happy life? Stay out of any sort of video or music related business. It just isn't worth the trouble.

shmerl 9y ago

> I can almost guarantee that Netflix is not imposing this DRM by their own volition. Where can we get their own films and shows DRM-free?

ksk 9y ago
How much are you willing to pay for it?
- shmerl 9y ago
  To pay for something, it should be available first. So it's pointless to ask, if you can't buy it for any price.
  - ksk 9y ago
    Well if a lot of people were willing to pay more for DRM-free, or if people avoided DRM'ed content, it would make business sense to do that. Its easier to effect change from the bottom up, than demanding a company change their policies just because you disagree with them. For example, EMI experimented with selling their entire catalog DRM-free on itunes for 30 cents more per track in 2007. I don't think it turned out well for them. That's the only one I remember off the top of my head. Seems like you're interested in this topic so you may have other examples.
    - shmerl 9y ago
      What makes sense is to offer an option instead of saying "we know better what you should want, so we won't offer it". Music sells just fine DRM-free on Bandcamp. Games sell fine DRM-free on GOG. So I don't see any reason for films to be different. Lack of DRM-free video has nothing to do with lack of demand, but more with paranoia and backwards thinking of some legacy media execs. See https://www.gog.com/forum/general/introducing_gogcom_drmfree_movies/post499 https://www.gog.com/forum/general/introducing_gogcom_drmfree...
      - imustbeevil 9y ago
        Developer of The Banner Saga when asked if the second game would be on GOG. > sadly once we released DRM Free for The Banner Saga we saw our game get pirated like wildfire. Which is something we're keen to avoid as much possible. We haven't given it much thought at this point to be honest when it comes to GoG. https://steamcommunity.com/app/281640/discussions/0/392184522702606796/#c392184522702930550 https://steamcommunity.com/app/281640/discussions/0/39218452...
        shmerl 9y ago
        Which is a pretty clueless response. Avoiding GOG will only increase such pirating (by decreasing legal sources for the game). Developers should know better.
        imustbeevil 9y ago
        > Avoiding GOG will only increase such pirating (by decreasing legal sources for the game). Until you provide a single source you're not saying anything worth responding to.
        shmerl 9y ago
        Not sure how those developers measured piracy in general. But piracy is naturally increased by limiting legal sources for buying something. Other developers commented on this very issue, saying that existing DRM increased piracy.

bborud 9y ago

As someone who used to work in a company that was in the streaming business I can confirm that content providers are exceptionally paranoid about the raw content they provide. You spend all your time trying to minimize content provider restrictions and requirements that impact the experience of your users. Want a happy life? Stay out of any sort of video or music related business. It just isn't worth the trouble.