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There's a very simple solution to this, at the moment. First of all, do your research on a product before you buy it, typically a quick google search will tell

There's a very simple solution to this, at the moment. First of all, do your research on a product before you buy it, typically a quick google search will tell you whether or not there are any glaring problems with whatever it is you're considering. Second, if you find that something you purchased contains harmful DRM, return it to the retailer if it is within the returns window. If it is not, post it on Craigslist or equivalent explaining why you're getting rid of it, you'll find a buyer without losing much money. Thirdly, contact the company that made the product and inform them that you just returned or resold the product because it contains DRM that in your opinion is harmful to you the consumer, and that you will be avoiding any future products that include DRM, and that you will be sharing your BRAND_GOES_HERE experience with your friends and family. The more we push back against this, the harder it is for that big-wig at FooCorp to deny that DRM has downsides. This will only work in the early stages while there are alternatives though, so push back now.

pixl97 12y ago
You're right, that's what people need to do. The problem? That's not what most people are going go do. Why? They will walk in to Walmart and see PooperScooperA for $100 and PooperScooperB for $200, will see the items have similar specs and buy A. Why they won't realize is A has DRM that only uses special expensive A packets. The packaging for A is going to hide this fact as much as possible. And you are right, it leaves that advertising to us to bitch, post, and yell about DRM wherever we can. Many people will complain about how tired they are about said posts. Some forums will even be paid off by manufactures to block such posts.
- click170 12y ago
  You're right, that is a problem for people who haven't been bitten by DRM yet, but I find that it typically only happens once, at least to people who care about that kind of thing. This is how I see it going: Person buys slightly cheaper cat box. Person runs out of SpecialCleaningSolutionX that comes with the product. Person goes to buy more, but is taken aback by the high price of the cleaning solution. Person looks for noname brand cleaning solution and either doesn't find it, or does find it but finds out it doesn't work. Person then takes to social media to rant about their horrible experience with CompanyY and about how SpecialCleaningSolutionX costs far more than the price difference between that more expensive product was. Person's friends and family learn the lesson that Person did, but through osmsis. CompanyY wonders why sales for their product begin to drop off as word spreads. It's unfortunate that a lot of people have to buy it to find out how horrible it is, but the alternative is researching the product before buying it and there's nothing preventing them from doing that, it's just truly unfortunate that it's come to this.

pixl97 12y ago

You're right, that's what people need to do. The problem? That's not what most people are going go do. Why? They will walk in to Walmart and see PooperScooperA for $100 and PooperScooperB for $200, will see the items have similar specs and buy A. Why they won't realize is A has DRM that only uses special expensive A packets. The packaging for A is going to hide this fact as much as possible. And you are right, it leaves that advertising to us to bitch, post, and yell about DRM wherever we can. Many people will complain about how tired they are about said posts. Some forums will even be paid off by manufactures to block such posts.

click170 12y ago
You're right, that is a problem for people who haven't been bitten by DRM yet, but I find that it typically only happens once, at least to people who care about that kind of thing. This is how I see it going: Person buys slightly cheaper cat box. Person runs out of SpecialCleaningSolutionX that comes with the product. Person goes to buy more, but is taken aback by the high price of the cleaning solution. Person looks for noname brand cleaning solution and either doesn't find it, or does find it but finds out it doesn't work. Person then takes to social media to rant about their horrible experience with CompanyY and about how SpecialCleaningSolutionX costs far more than the price difference between that more expensive product was. Person's friends and family learn the lesson that Person did, but through osmsis. CompanyY wonders why sales for their product begin to drop off as word spreads. It's unfortunate that a lot of people have to buy it to find out how horrible it is, but the alternative is researching the product before buying it and there's nothing preventing them from doing that, it's just truly unfortunate that it's come to this.