DRM and You
DRM – What is it? DRM is Digital Rights Management - technology used to control access to digital data or hardware, which may include (but is not limited to) such things as digitally encoded music, games, movies or computer systems. DRM is Digital Rights Management - technology used to control access to digital data or hardware, which may include (but is not limited to) such things as digitally encoded music, games, movies or computer systems.
Examples of DRM DIVX DIVX CSS CSS FairPlay FairPlay Extended Copy Protection Extended Copy Protection Windows Media DRM Windows Media DRM Janus DRM Janus DRM
How does it affect me? May restrict your ability to use music that you’ve paid for. May restrict your ability to use music that you’ve paid for. May cause more problems (Sony/BMG rootkits) May cause more problems (Sony/BMG rootkits)
How can I avoid DRM issues? Buy DRM-free music Buy DRM-free music eMusic.com ( eMusic.com ( Audio Lunchbox ( Audio Lunchbox (
How can I avoid DRM issues? Rip your own music from CDs Rip your own music from CDs Exact Audio Copy ( Exact Audio Copy ( Audiograbber ( Audiograbber (
How can I avoid DRM issues? Ensure that the machine you download to is the machine on which you will use the file. Ensure that the machine you download to is the machine on which you will use the file. Understand what restrictions the DRM will place on you in each case; i.e., number of devices on which it can be used, whether it can be copied or not. Understand what restrictions the DRM will place on you in each case; i.e., number of devices on which it can be used, whether it can be copied or not.
What is the future of DRM? Steve Jobs calls for DRM-free music Steve Jobs calls for DRM-free music EMI “looking into” selling DRM-free music. EMI “looking into” selling DRM-free music. Several other music publishers doing the same. Several other music publishers doing the same. Vista implements significant DRM watching at the OS level. Vista implements significant DRM watching at the OS level.