Global InformationDigital rights management information
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Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content. Various tools or technological protection measures (TPM),[1] such as access control technologies, can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works.[2] DRM technologies govern the use, modification and distribution of copyrighted works (e.g. software, multimedia content) and of systems that enforce these policies within devices.[3] DRM technologies include licensing agreements[4] and encryption.[5]
Laws in many countries criminalize the circumvention of DRM, communication about such circumvention, and the creation and distribution of tools used for such circumvention. Such laws are part of the United States' Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA),[6] and the European Union's Information Society Directive[7] – with the French DADVSI an example of a member state of the European Union implementing that directive.[8]
Copyright holders argue that DRM technologies are necessary to protect intellectual property, just as physical locks prevent personal property from theft.[1] For examples, they can help the copyright holders for maintaining artistic controls,[9] and supporting licenses' modalities such as rentals.[10] Industrial users (i.e. industries) have expanded the use of DRM technologies to various hardware products, such as Keurig's coffeemakers,[11][12] Philips' light bulbs,[13][14] mobile device power chargers,[15][16][17] and John Deere's tractors.[18] For instance, tractor companies try to prevent farmers from making repairs via DRM.[19]
DRM is controversial. There is an absence of evidence about the DRM capability in preventing copyright infringement, some complaints by legitimate customers for caused inconveniences, and a suspicion of stifling innovation and competition.[20] Furthermore, works can become permanently inaccessible if the DRM scheme changes or if a required service is discontinued.[21] DRM technologies have been criticized for restricting individuals from copying or using the content legally, such as by fair use or by making backup copies. DRM is in common use by the entertainment industry (e.g., audio and video publishers).[22] Many online stores such as OverDrive use DRM technologies, as do cable and satellite service operators. Apple removed DRM technology from iTunes around 2009.[23] Typical DRM also prevents lending materials out through a library, or accessing works in the public domain.[1]
- ^ a b c "The pros, cons, and future of DRM". Cbc.ca. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
Digital locks – also known as digital rights management (DRM) technologies or technological protection measures (TPM)
- ^ Computer Forensics: Investigating Network Intrusions and Cybercrime. Cengage Learning. 16 September 2009. pp. 9–26. ISBN 978-1435483521.
- ^ "Fact Sheet: Digital Rights Management and have to do: Technical Protection Measures". Priv.gc.ca. 24 November 2006. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ^ "Digital Rights Management Systems and Copy Protection Schemes". eff.org. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
- ^ Kranich, Nancy. "Chap 1(pg.8)." The Information Commons. Creative Commons, 2004. Print.
- ^ "Public Law 105 – 304 – Digital Millennium Copyright Act". U. S. Government Publishing Office. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society". Official Journal of the European Union. 22 June 2001. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "LOI n° 2006-961 du 1er août 2006 relative au droit d'auteur et aux droits voisins dans la société de l'information". Journal officiel de la République française (in French). 3 August 2006. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ "Images and the Internet". Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ Christopher Levy (3 February 2003). "Making Money with Streaming Media". streamingmedia.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2006.
- ^ Bode, Karl (3 March 2014). "Keurig Will Use DRM in New Coffee Maker To Lock Out Refill Market". techdirt.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ Chris Welch (28 August 2014). "Keurig's coffee brewer 'DRM' has already been defeated". Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ Philips pushes lightbulb firmware update that locks out third-party bulbs Archived 16 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine by Cory Doctorow on Boing Boing (14 December 2015)
- ^ Light Bulb DRM: Philips Locks Purchasers Out Of Third-Party Bulbs With Firmware Update Archived 17 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine on techdirt.com (14 December 2015)
- ^ Another Thing You Need: 'DRM For Chargers' Archived 2 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine on techdirt.com by Carlo Longino (25 July 2007)
- ^ Ed Felten (26 July 2007). "DRM for Chargers: Possibly Good for Users". freedom-to-tinker.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
Apple has filed a patent application on a technology for tethering rechargeable devices (like iPods) to particular chargers. The idea is that the device will only allow its batteries to be recharged if it is connected to an authorized charger. Whether this is good for consumers depends on how a device comes to be authorized. If "authorized" just means "sold or licensed by Apple" then consumers won't benefit – the only effect will be to give Apple control of the aftermarket for replacement chargers.
- ^ hacking-dell-laptop-charger-identification Archived 4 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine on hackaday.com (3 March 2014)
- ^ Wiens, Kyle (21 April 2015). "We Can't Let John Deere Destroy the Very Idea of Ownership". Wired. wired.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
- ^ Sydell, Laura (17 August 2015). "DIY Tractor Repair Runs Afoul of Copyright Law". npr.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ "DRM". Electronic Frontier Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ "The DRM graveyard: A brief history of digital rights management in music". opensource.com. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ "QuickPlay Distributes TV Over Mobile Wi-Fi". MediaDaily News. 11 November 2009. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ Bobbie Johnson, San Francisco (6 January 2009). "Apple drops copy protection from iTunes". Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2012.