4 ms·

> But to pretend those came from "big tech" is laughable, at best. I'm curious about how old you are. Tech's obsession with DRM (then called "copy protection")

> But to pretend those came from "big tech" is laughable, at best. I'm curious about how old you are. Tech's obsession with DRM (then called "copy protection") started in 1975¹, and IIRC as of the late 70s/early 80s basically all software of note had DRM. ¹ https://archive.is/b8rK9 https://archive.is/b8rK9

mikewarot 3y ago
We tech people are only obsessed with routing around DRM... it's management that is obsessed with DRM.
- Muromec 3y ago
  That's why the "big" qualifier is important.
- maxbond 3y ago
  It is vitally important not to conflate technologists with the tech industry and not to confuse a criticism of the industry as a criticism of ourselves personally.
- lesuorac 3y ago
  Work at a place that made expensive physical objects. Customers calling in because they could use the objects because they plugged the hardware key into a different machine was all the time ... Like the hardware had to be wired to the computer running the software. An extra hardware key that needs to be plugged into the computer as well doesn't do anything!
  - 8note 3y ago
    This gives me a fun hardware idea: Make hardware keys that have the shape of real keys, and that you have to turn to engage the USB key. The key shape isn't security, just a hint at what needs to plug where. You sell both keys and receptacles that can be put into a metal case or an otter box
    - taeric 3y ago
      This is basically what a security key (e.g., yubikey) is? I'm actually surprised I can't get a door lock that can be opened by one, yet. Could even be NFC capable, so that you don't have to plug in anything. Similarly, this is effectively what many car keys are, nowadays.
taeric 3y ago
I'm old enough to remember it has almost always been publishers pushing drm. And yes, I remember serial port keys that tried to lock cad software. Some were keyed to physical sectors on hard drives.
- TylerE 3y ago
  Anyone who works with music software, to this day, deals with the pain of physical hardware keys. A few of the software players are moving from that to cloud based drm… which is at least less annoying since it doesn’t tie up a previous USB port. It’s called iLok.
  - omgmajk 3y ago
    >Anyone who works with music software, to this day, deals with the pain of physical hardware keys. And anyone who works in the automotive industry, sadly.
    - samplatt 3y ago
      Also the engineering industry. And Architecture. And mapping/GIS sphere.
- bitwize 3y ago
  Creators as well. Talk to anyone who works in a creative field that isn't programming. They want DRM. They love it. And the reason why is simple: DRM works. It does the job. It doesn't stop all piracy, but it greatly attenuates it allowing the creators to make a buck. I remember discussing this with a writing group in the 90s, when the first e-readers came out. They vastly preferred the DRM-encumbered platforms because they could make money with lower risk of piracy. And this is why DRM will never go away. Take DRM away, and creators will just stop releasing things digitally. Programmers in general need to learn to suck it up when it comes to things like this. Without DRM, pirates win, creators lose, legitimate audiences lose.
  - brightlancer 3y ago
msla 3y ago
Non-shortened link: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/18/business/technology-a-tale-of-the-tape-from-the-days-when-it-was-still-micro-soft.html https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/18/business/technology-a-tal...

mikewarot 3y ago

We tech people are only obsessed with routing around DRM... it's management that is obsessed with DRM.

Muromec 3y ago
That's why the "big" qualifier is important.
maxbond 3y ago
It is vitally important not to conflate technologists with the tech industry and not to confuse a criticism of the industry as a criticism of ourselves personally.
lesuorac 3y ago
Work at a place that made expensive physical objects. Customers calling in because they could use the objects because they plugged the hardware key into a different machine was all the time ... Like the hardware had to be wired to the computer running the software. An extra hardware key that needs to be plugged into the computer as well doesn't do anything!
- 8note 3y ago
  This gives me a fun hardware idea: Make hardware keys that have the shape of real keys, and that you have to turn to engage the USB key. The key shape isn't security, just a hint at what needs to plug where. You sell both keys and receptacles that can be put into a metal case or an otter box
  - taeric 3y ago
    This is basically what a security key (e.g., yubikey) is? I'm actually surprised I can't get a door lock that can be opened by one, yet. Could even be NFC capable, so that you don't have to plug in anything. Similarly, this is effectively what many car keys are, nowadays.

taeric 3y ago

I'm old enough to remember it has almost always been publishers pushing drm. And yes, I remember serial port keys that tried to lock cad software. Some were keyed to physical sectors on hard drives.

TylerE 3y ago
Anyone who works with music software, to this day, deals with the pain of physical hardware keys. A few of the software players are moving from that to cloud based drm… which is at least less annoying since it doesn’t tie up a previous USB port. It’s called iLok.
- omgmajk 3y ago
  >Anyone who works with music software, to this day, deals with the pain of physical hardware keys. And anyone who works in the automotive industry, sadly.
  - samplatt 3y ago
    Also the engineering industry. And Architecture. And mapping/GIS sphere.
bitwize 3y ago
Creators as well. Talk to anyone who works in a creative field that isn't programming. They want DRM. They love it. And the reason why is simple: DRM works. It does the job. It doesn't stop all piracy, but it greatly attenuates it allowing the creators to make a buck. I remember discussing this with a writing group in the 90s, when the first e-readers came out. They vastly preferred the DRM-encumbered platforms because they could make money with lower risk of piracy. And this is why DRM will never go away. Take DRM away, and creators will just stop releasing things digitally. Programmers in general need to learn to suck it up when it comes to things like this. Without DRM, pirates win, creators lose, legitimate audiences lose.
- brightlancer 3y ago

msla 3y ago

Non-shortened link: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/18/business/technology-a-tale-of-the-tape-from-the-days-when-it-was-still-micro-soft.html https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/18/business/technology-a-tal...