4 ms·

> ...giving me the ability to send you a file and still control your usage. This is exactly why DRM is malware. It's not your device. You don't get to say what

> ...giving me the ability to send you a file and still control your usage. This is exactly why DRM is malware. It's not your device. You don't get to say what it may or may not do. That's for the device's owner to decide. malware: Software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. <https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/malware> https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/malware> Your explicit intention is to disrupt the operation of the computer running the DRM software. This disruption is not authorized by the owner of the device. Ergo: malware.

lazyasciiart 7y ago
Without DRM, I won't send you the file. If I don't send you the file, you can't play it at all. So DRM has increased what you can do.
- nybble41 7y ago
  > Without DRM, I won't send you the file. If you're going to claim control over my computer in the process, I would prefer that you not send me the file. If the price is accepting DRM then it would be better for everyone if the file never existed.
  - lazyasciiart 7y ago
    I can still not send you the file if I have DRM. Now you are keeping control of your computer by not using any files with DRM, and arguing that nobody else should be given those options.
    - Dylan16807 7y ago
      There are lots of freedoms you can't contract away. It's not particularly odd to view DRM with that same lens. And as a practical matter, while many services require DRM when it's easy to do so, in a world without DRM almost none would shut down.
    - nybble41 7y ago
      Look, if you want to keep the file to yourself unless I agree to run your DRM code on my PC, that's your choice (and mine). Just like rootkits are generally considered malware but it's not an issue if the owner of the PC chooses to install one. However, to be clear, the price is not just me accepting DRM in order to get the file from you but rather everyone being saddled with owner-hostile (and generally non-removable) code shipped with their computers by default and a legal system which grants special privileges and protections to purveyors of DRM, without which the technical measures would be far less effective. I'm not complaining that you won't give me the file unless I run your DRM code. I'm complaining that your insistence on DRM is creating negative externalities for me and others even if we don't want the file.

lazyasciiart 7y ago

Without DRM, I won't send you the file. If I don't send you the file, you can't play it at all. So DRM has increased what you can do.

nybble41 7y ago
> Without DRM, I won't send you the file. If you're going to claim control over my computer in the process, I would prefer that you not send me the file. If the price is accepting DRM then it would be better for everyone if the file never existed.
- lazyasciiart 7y ago
  I can still not send you the file if I have DRM. Now you are keeping control of your computer by not using any files with DRM, and arguing that nobody else should be given those options.
  - Dylan16807 7y ago
    There are lots of freedoms you can't contract away. It's not particularly odd to view DRM with that same lens. And as a practical matter, while many services require DRM when it's easy to do so, in a world without DRM almost none would shut down.
  - nybble41 7y ago
    Look, if you want to keep the file to yourself unless I agree to run your DRM code on my PC, that's your choice (and mine). Just like rootkits are generally considered malware but it's not an issue if the owner of the PC chooses to install one. However, to be clear, the price is not just me accepting DRM in order to get the file from you but rather everyone being saddled with owner-hostile (and generally non-removable) code shipped with their computers by default and a legal system which grants special privileges and protections to purveyors of DRM, without which the technical measures would be far less effective. I'm not complaining that you won't give me the file unless I run your DRM code. I'm complaining that your insistence on DRM is creating negative externalities for me and others even if we don't want the file.