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Is Netflix an outdated business model? Because it's not possible without DRM. Is any sort of video rental or subscription model outdated? And why is it outdated

by cwyers 12y ago

Is Netflix an outdated business model? Because it's not possible without DRM. Is any sort of video rental or subscription model outdated? And why is it outdated? DRM may not be able to provide 100% ironclad copy protection, but it provides roughly the same level of copy protection that video rental has before, probably better if you're comparing to VHS or DVD. The idea that any sort of rental arrangement for video content is "outdated" reflects your own wishes, not the facts on the ground. The technology exists to provide good enough guarantees for the content providers, and it remains a popular choice with consumers. You're right that pirates have figured out how to break the DRM on Orange Is The New Black and distribute copies of it. What they haven't figured out is a new business model where consumers buy the majority of their content a la carte rather than getting much of it from subscriptions (Netflix/Hulu/Amazon type subscriptions or cable/satellite subscriptions) and rentals and theatrical exhibition.

copsarebastards 12y ago
> Is Netflix an outdated business model? Because it's not possible without DRM. [citation needed] > Is any sort of video rental or subscription model outdated? I’m not sure why you’re asking me that, I never said that. > And why is it outdated? Because DRM does exactly nothing to prevent piracy, and hurts users. > DRM may not be able to provide 100% ironclad copy protection, but it provides roughly the same level of copy protection that video rental has before, probably better if you're comparing to VHS or DVD. And how much copy protection is that? Here’s a fun experiment: go on The Pirate Bay and search for Orange is the New Black, then tell me how effective you think DRM is. Piracy is far easier now than it was in the VHS or DVD eras. In the VHS or DVD eras you at least had to have some access to a controlled version of the content in order to copy it. Now you can go on a torrent site and search for something you’ve never heard of and people you’ll never meet will serve it to you for free. So no, DRM does not provide roughly the same level of copy protection as video rental.

by cwyers 12y ago

copsarebastards 12y ago

> Is Netflix an outdated business model? Because it's not possible without DRM. [citation needed] > Is any sort of video rental or subscription model outdated? I’m not sure why you’re asking me that, I never said that. > And why is it outdated? Because DRM does exactly nothing to prevent piracy, and hurts users. > DRM may not be able to provide 100% ironclad copy protection, but it provides roughly the same level of copy protection that video rental has before, probably better if you're comparing to VHS or DVD. And how much copy protection is that? Here’s a fun experiment: go on The Pirate Bay and search for Orange is the New Black, then tell me how effective you think DRM is. Piracy is far easier now than it was in the VHS or DVD eras. In the VHS or DVD eras you at least had to have some access to a controlled version of the content in order to copy it. Now you can go on a torrent site and search for something you’ve never heard of and people you’ll never meet will serve it to you for free. So no, DRM does not provide roughly the same level of copy protection as video rental.