Battlemouth

We live in an age where we feel that we have the right to use our digital media–and the hardware that we use this digital media on–in any way that we see fit. Many of us would like to be able to watch our movies on any device we want. After all, we did buy it, right? Let us watch it when and where we choose. Many of us would also like to listen to our music on any device that choose. Digital Rights Management (DRM) has always been around. In fact, it has been around ever since we started using digital media. The problem is this: we keep letting the companies responsible for DRM get away with it.

Example One: Apple.

We almost all use an Apple product of some sort; even I belong to this group. Be it an iPod, iPhone, or even the new iPad (I am starting to notice a trend in Apple’s naming scheme. I am onto you Apple!). I mention those specific devices for a reason: they are single-handedly the worst devices on the market for those people who do not like to be told how to use their software (or hardware for that matter, but hardware is another story). On the iProducts, you are only allowed to run the software that Apple says you are allowed to run, and should Apple change their mind about an application that you have already been using, they can simply just take it away without your knowledge. If you try to modify your device, then they will simply break it for you. They have done this a lot in the past. Think about it this way: would you still buy cars from a manufacturer that told you, “You are not allowed to make any changes to the car. Doing so will violate an agreement that you accepted by buying our car.” Then, when you add in that new CD player, they come and put sugar in your gas tank. All for that new CD player! I know I sure wouldn’t be buying from them–yet we continue to purchase products from companies that do this very thing!

Example Two: DVDs.

DVDs from all manufacturers are terrible in the DRM department. The encryptions placed on these DVDs practically trap people into break the law. Burning a backup copy of a DVD is a fantastic idea (especially if you have kids), so that the original does not get scratched, lost, or eaten by the cat. But if you were to make a backup copy, you would then be breaking the law. What if you want to rip the DVD to your computer so that you can put it in a format that allows you to play it on a portable device? Oh wait, you would be breaking the law yet again.

My biggest problem with DRM is that it is not stopping anyone. All it is doing is making honest people criminals. Then as more and more people break the encryption that they place on our digital media it causes the price of the media to go higher and higher. Alas, it is stopping no one. Remove the DRM and let people use their legally-purchased media in the way that they see fit. There is no need for the media and entertainment companies to tell us how, when, and where we will use their products.