3 ms·
I'm ok with DRM if it's confined to a particular application and the content it manages, like the Kindle app, for example. You can always choose not to install
by cageface 14y ago
I'm ok with DRM if it's confined to a particular application and the content it manages, like the Kindle app, for example. You can always choose not to install that app.
But I reject system-wide DRM for the same reasons you describe. More and more people interact online primarily through mobile devices so these rights are more important than ever.
- gizmo686 14y agoThe problem is an app-specific DRM scheme is impossible to implement. The user would be able to intercept any API calls the app makes to an external program, at the very least capturing/spoofing the signal to the I/O drivers. The only way to make a secure system in this sense is if the software can establish a chain of trust and be confident that it is not running on top of 'compromised' software. An solution to this, which I believe is common on phones with official support for rooting, is to have a cryptographiclly secure way for a software to verify it is running on a non-rooted stack (I assume through signatures). At least this way, the only thing that disabling the system-wide DRM will cost you are the apps that specifically request the system-wide DRM. A better solution that I have not seen implemented, is to be able to run both a rooted stack, and a provably non-rooted stack at the same time. I am not sure if this is technically feasible to do for the kernel (maybe with firmware support?), but it seems completly doable for userspace programs.
- cageface 14y agoTo make a really robust DRM system, perhaps. But DRM really just needs to put enough of a speedbump in front of the average user to make it less of a hassle to pay. iTunes Movies and the Kindle Store are both good examples of this.
- Natsu 14y agoIt takes exactly one smart person to break the DRM for everyone.
- cageface 14y agoSure but consider Kindle ebooks, for example. Finding a pirated copy of a book, dealing with the hassles of torrenting or some kind of download site, manually loading the book over, risking all kinds of phishing scams or viruses on the sites that serve this stuff - this is all way too much hassle. I'm happy to pay the $10 for the book even though I know I don't have to. Making money selling digital goods is all about making paying easier than stealing.
- gizmo686 14y agoYour not describing a DRM system, you are describing taking down distributors.
- cageface 14y agoThe point is that even a weak DRM system like Kindle's is sufficient to keep most people on the right side of the line. It doesn't have to be perfect.
- Natsu 14y agoI don't believe that DRM deserves the credit because I have yet to observe any such deterrent effect, while conversely, I have heard of many who turned to piracy due to feeling cheated by DRM. I'm just curious, but have you ever observed anyone give up and buy something because they failed to pirate it?