The Fight Against the DRM

For those of you media junkies out there, you are probably already familiar with the term Digital Rights Management. For those of you who are less familiar, a DRM is any sort of software that is usually attached to media files in order to limit the use of the media file. For example, many legal online music download sites attach a DRM to the music file being downloaded to prevent its copy, or limit its ability to be played without the use of some sort of proprietary software. Since the sole purpose of the DRM is to restrict the use of such material, some organizations opposed to the use of the DRM, such as the Free Software Foundation and Defective By Design, have started calling the DRM Digital Restrictions Management.

In recent years, the aforementioned groups as well as many others, have worked hard to educate the public about the use of DRMs and generate public opposition. After all the use of DRM only serves to inhibit the user from using their purchase as they wish. Fortunately, in the past few months it seems as though the fight against the DRM may be starting to pick up. As of January 8, 2009 Apple announced that all music downloads will now be DRM free. However, don't give Apple too much credit. If it weren't for the public putting so much pressure on the record companies to remove the DRM and the record companies forcing Apple to remove it, it would surely still be around. Not to mention that DRM-free songs cost $.30 more. In fact, according to http://www.defectivebydesign.org/itunes-drm-free Apple still employs the DRM to restrict many of its other technologies:

• DRM is used to lock iPhones to AT&T, and other networks around the world.


• DRM is used to lock downloads from the App Store, even downloads at no-charge.


• DRM is used to prevent iPod/iPhone being used with software other than iTunes.


• DRM is used to prevent OS X from loading on generic PCs.


• DRM is used to prevent the latest MacBook computers from working on certain types of monitor and HDTV.


• DRM is used to keep accessory vendors for the iPod and iPhone limited to a subset of the devices features via an "authentication chip."


• DRM is used to lock up movies, TV shows, ringtones and audiobooks purchased through the iTunes Store.

So although this was a win in the fight against the DRM, there is still a long ways to go.

But Apple is certainly not the only company at fault. With DRMs being used on MSN Music to lock songs to the phone it was downloaded to, Microsoft is still adamantly defending the DRM, though very very poorly. It is almost humorous how terrible their defense is, merely suggesting that some people may only want music on their phone. I encourage you to read Microsoft's terrible defense of the DRM. Other companies including Sony and Walmart to name very few also continue to use the DRM despite public opposition. We will just need to keep telling these companies we refuse to purchase products we are not free to use, and buy our music from DRM-free music stores, such as Amazon.