Fundamental laws of DRM
DRM makes it difficult for consumers—who lack time and patience—to do useful things with their content except in manner explicitly defined by somebody else.
In order to be able to consume DRM-protected content, you must have both the content itself and the digital keys to unlock it—you just need to know how to either put the two together.
DRM rarely presents a barrier for somebody with time and money to spare (that is, the people who distribute content illegally).
What does this mean in real terms?
First, it means that if you employ DRM (whether you’ve been required to by somebody else, or decided it was a good idea by your own accord), the only people that you’re inconveniencing to any tangible degree are your customers.
Second, it only takes one determined infringer to create a DRM-free version of some content and distribute it to millions illicitly.
DRM is especially worthless when it comes to content which is distributed in a locked-down fashion online, but freely available in some unencumbered form by some other means. Even if you talk to manufacturers to try to close the “holes” to prevent leakage, there’s usually an easy way to prise them open again if you’re so-inclined.
What you’re left with is a situation where there’s a disparity. Take the BBC for example. Content is broadcast free-to-air (which it must be, in order for people to be able to receive it), yet downloads from iPlayer are wrapped up in Adobe DRM which is limited in its interoperability. Even low-bitrate mobile versions use the Open Mobile Alliance DRM.
All of this despite the fact that captured-from-broadcast versions of programmes are made available on file-sharing networks within minutes of airing—sometimes even before the official (encumbered) downloads are available.
In the BBC’s case, the popularity of iPlayer streaming helps mask the problem, but it doesn’t cover those people who don’t actually want to watch TV on their laptops or one of the limited number of supported mobile devices.
Where do you think consumers will go for hassle-free downloads, without the hassle of worrying about whether the DRM is useable on their device or operating system? Do you think they’d be on your side if you somehow (and history suggests it’s pretty unlikely) managed to track down and bring to trial somebody who was distributing your programming illegally?
These are your customers. These are the people who pay your wages.
Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.
