JamieG Analysis

A long time ago, before I started this blog (Over 2 years ago), I spent a lot of time on writing comments to other blogs.  Specifically about DRM and its only real roll, if it had any at all, in the future of digital media. In general I was usually flamed with no one even attempting to understand my point of view.

Strangely enough, the industry is actually NOW starting to follow exactly what I had foretold.

In brief it goes like this.

DRM is the wrong name and a major reason it has such a bad name.  It should be called something like UIF (User inconvenience factor)  I had a better name for it, but it was such a long time ago and the old blogs I posted to are long gone and the archives deleted. I did look.

The copy protection portion does not need to be bullet proof. For example, DVD is very easy to copy, but in general, you need to be very keen to work it all out.  As such it is inconvenient for most end users to do so. As such it is more convenient simply to purchase another copy.  Spending millions on a uncrackable system, forcing total control of the devices to the manufacturer to keep updating them as they do inevitably get cracked….  These ideas will never work.

An agreed standard that every maker/brand of media player should accept and only implement devices that support this copy protection system.

In my view, it could simply be a AES128 bit encryption with a user selectable key Ie a 4 digit pin or a phone number. Very standard and very easy to implement.  Any supporting device could then accept up to 10 programmable pins and play any protected content for those pins.  Ie so a media player could play all the content from a family with up to 10 members.  No issues.  Just play the file as easy as MP3.  Yes this does mean it will be relatively easy to share content, but in the long run inconvenient to share content from many sources.  Keeping track of pins etc.  The inconvenience factor grows until, simply purchasing it is a better solution.

At the end of the day, its all about convenience.  DRM is not what we need.  We need a system that can give the end user the freedom they want, but at the same time introduce an “inconvenience factor” that encourages the end user to do what is right and purchase the content they use.

When I last wrote about this, I came to the conclusion that this is most likely the best way forward, however, the mind set of the big brands such as Sony, it was total control of bust.  Well, as its looking more and more like BUST. Hell hath frozen over..  Read the new stategy from SONY here.

Apple is also going for this utopia, but in the more controlled manor.  See my post

In which I describe Apple’s attempt to become the  ubiquitous media platform with a self imposed DRM system.  Apple is hoping to reach such a critical mass that they become the de facto standard which everyone would then have to license. (No hope, but you cannot blame them for trying.)

Microsoft has also attempted this for years, but largely has abandoned the idea.  Currently they seem to be focusing on the cable companies.  Personally I think the are a bit lost and are not sure witch way to jump.  They are putting Silverlight out there in a big way to see what happens.

FOLLOW UP: There has been yet another development on this topic.

A group of major media industry companies called the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem that includes Best Buy, Cisco Systems, Comcast and HP will share details of its interoperability and media usage rights plan at the Consumer Electronics Show.