DRM

DO NOT WANT!

	“	You ain't gonna manage my digital rights	„
	—Futuristic Sex Robots

Big Media describe DRM as Digital Rights Management. However, since its purpose is to restrict you the user, it is more accurate to describe DRM as Digital Restrictions Management. DRM Technology can restricts users’ access to movies, music, literature and software, in other words; ALL FORMS OF DIGITAL DATA. Unfree software implementing DRM technology is simply a prison in which users can be put to deprive them of the rights that the law would otherwise allow them.

This ofcourse has lead into massive amount of butthurt and drama and after months of campaigning during 2006, DefectiveByDesign.org declared Tuesday October 3rd 2006, an international "Day Against DRM". With over 10,000 technologists in the campaign, who pledged to take direct action to stop DRM, and with more than 200 "actions" planned across the globe on October 3rd.

History of DRM

DRM first came on the scene at least 100 years ago when people started recording songs on the radio to cassette tapes. This caused rich people, "artists", and lawyers to shit themselves in terror and run around screaming "ZOMG THEY R STEALING OUR PROPERTIES!!!" They then paid some Ethical Hackers over 9000 dollars to develop a way to keep music from being spread across the tubes for free.

Today DRM is loved by republicans and hated by Steve Jobs. Some argue that DRM will eventually lead to the downfall of civilization, but everyone else considers it to be shit nobody cares about.

DVDs (or Bluray disks) you buy are encrypted and all of the video and audio on these disks are coded using a key that the hardware attempts to keep secret. Hollywood requires that all DVD manufacturers participate in this restrictive practice, and they can use the DMCA to make any device that doesn't participate in their scheme illegal.

This type of faggotry was but the foreshadow of greater ones to come. Standing behind the technology companies, Big Media loom large. To increase their control, they demand technology companies impose DRM. Of course many of the technology companies now see themselves as part of Big Media, in example: Sony is a film and music company, Microsoft is an owner of MSNBC, and Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, sits on the board of Disney. These technology companies cannot be expected to serve the interests of the technology consumer.

Big Media hope that DRM will deliver them what copyright law never has: they aim to turn our every interaction with a published work into a transaction, abolishing fair use and the commons, and making copyright effectively last forever. They will say that you accepted DRM and willingly surrendered your rights to such an extent that you will only be able to regain control by removing the software, But if you do remove the software you will also remove all your movies along with it.

You are restricted even geographically, and you lose your movies if you ever move out of the USA. You of course have to agree that they can change these terms at any time. (Microsoft's newly upgraded Windows Media Player 11 user agreement has a similar set of terms.)

the AIDS that plagues the intrusdy

Each time the man forces you to upgrade your software, they same time downgrade your rights. Every new DRM system will futher rape you in the ass. Apple has also added more restrictions to their services, restricting the use of music and video. But this is not just happening with music and video alone, DRM is being applied to knowledge and information, such as Libraries, schools and universities. Wich are adding DRM, sometimes under pressure, often without understanding the consequences.

How does this affect us in the future?

• No fair use.
• No purchase and resell.
• No private copies.
• No sharing.
• No backup.
• No swapping.
• No mix tapes.
• No privacy.
• No commons.
• No control over our computers.
• No control over our electronic devices.

Note how this type of invasion of privacy would not be tolerated, if it came from some other source.

Users of free software are also victims of DRM. They can be locked out, and their computers won't play the movies or music under the lock. Products can "tivoize" their code (remove their freedom through DRM), delivering it back with malicious features and blocking removal.

The RIAA and the MPAA are actively lobbying Congress to pass new laws to mandate DRM and outlaw products and computers that don't enforce DRM, thus DRM has become a major AIDS that plagues the freedom of computer users.

	“	If consumers even know there's a DRM, what it is, and how it works, we've already failed	„
	—Disney executive Peter Lee In September 2005

DRM as AIDS

DRM is related to AIDS in the following ways:

1. DRM is a virus
2. DRM is spread via anal sex by homosexuals
3. Magic Johnson loves DRM
4. DRM was released onto the internets as a final solution (like the CIA did with AIDS, amirite)

u mad?

DRM as flame bait

There are many ways to turn DRM into lulz. In any thread, comments section, or LJ community even remotely related to music or the Internet, one can achieve maximum lulz by recounting the many benefits offered by "protected" media. These include:

• Letting the record companies put DRM in music files keeps prices low as they no longer have to account for piracy
• The MPAA and RIAA are only looking out for the best interest of the content creators
• The sound quality is better (or something)
• Hitler was also against DRM (omg Godwin!!)

Also, keep in mind that everyone on the Internet has an opinion, so try and be as contrary as possible. If someone makes a comment like "I hate DRM because I should be able to do what I want with what I own," respond with something along the lines of "Well, I got in trouble last Thursday for beating my slaves, so you win some you lose some."

DRM? In my Music?

DRM is everywhere. It's on your iPod, your DVDs and CDs, and even in your base, killing your dudes. It can be removed if you have access to Google and fifteen minutes to kill. In the meantime, you can write Congress and record execs to tell them that you'll never buy music again unless they get the DRM out of your music.

Further Reading

• Wikipedos discussing DRM
• Lulzy Fark thread about the dangers of DRM
• http://www.defectivebydesign.org/what_is_drm

DRM is part of a series on Music Visit the Music Portal for complete coverage.

See also

• Apple