Derek Bodner’s Blog

Well, no. I hate DRM with a passion. I feel dirty just typing that subject.

However, early this week I got an e-mail from the fsf (Free Software Foundation), which can be read in its entirety here.

Just as music companies do not like MP3-formatted audio because people can share it, they do not like free video formats like Ogg Theora, because it would allow people to save and share their videos. But, as with audio DRM schemes, video DRM schemes not only prevent sharing, they take control of your computer and data, and prevent you from doing any of the normal activities that have traditionally been done with VCR tapes and DVDs: the ability to sample, to copy the movie onto a disk or tape, and to move it onto another computer or portable video device. Giving up control of your computer and software is unnecessary, and there exist free software and open formats that not only respect your freedom to do what you want with your computer and your data, but they are also technically superior to their proprietary counterparts.

I loathe when I purchase a song through an online vendor and find out it’s DRM encrypted junk, or when you purchase a crippled CD/DVD. I have purchased these songs, and I absolutely should be able to play them how and where I want to. Preventing me from doing so does restrict my freedom to use the media I purchased.

But I swear sometimes we just make blank statements and leave it at that. DRM is bad! DRM removes your freedom! With netflix you’re not buying the video. You’re paying for a service, which allows you to download the movie and watch it instantly. But just like conventional netflix, you don’t own this DVD. You don’t get to keep it. You don’t get “normal activities that have traditionally been done with VCR tapes and DVDs” because you haven’t purchased the DVD. You cannot expect to pay $4.95/month and be able to download and keep movies. There is no business model where that would be a viable solution. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you want to actually own the movies, and get the “normal activities that have traditionally been done with VCR tapes and DVDs”, then you should purchase the DVD, not a subscription.

Conversely, Yahoo Music and a Napster subscription is not purchasing the music. “Freedom” does not mean I should be able to pay $9.95 for one month, download as much music as comcast will allow me, cancel my subscription, and “own” all the music I “purchased”. I paid for the subscription, not for the music.

When I purchase a movie online, I should be able to download it DRM free, and do with it as I please. When I purchase a CD at a store, it should come in a format I have control over. Likewise, when I go to Napster and purchase a song for $.99, I should have complete freedom over the use of it. But when I purchase a subscription, like Napster, Yahoo Unlimited, or Netflix, I am not purchasing the Music/DVD. I am purchasing the right to watch it. Believe it or not, I do believe there is a place for DRM. Do I think it’s often times used used unethically? Yes (*cough*Sony Rootkit*cough*). Is it often times misused on media I have bought? Yes. Do the DRM-technologies suck? Yes. But are there times when it is appropriate, times where I haven’t purchased the music/DVD and don’t get the rights to the “normal activities that have traditionally been done with VCR tapes and DVDs”? Yes.