DRM

Digital Rights Management (also called Digital Restriction Management, and DRM for short) is an umbrella term for any modern form of digital copy-protection. Many people are appalled by DRM, while others support it. Alternative terms used negatively against it are Digital Handcuffs and Digital Locks, though the later doesn't emphasis the opposition's hatred for it.

DRM removes the ability to work within the model of "I bought it, and now I own it". Most DRM mechanisms later are cracked, such as DVD movies, which is why you see DVD Rips on your favorite torrent site.

External links

• BBC News Technology Q&A: What is DRM?
• Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Networks by Richard Stallman
• Microsoft Research DRM talk, by Cory Doctorow
• iTunes, DRM and competition law by Reckon LLP
• DRM for prevent piracy, by Prot-On
• PC Game Piracy Examined Article investigating the effects of DRM and piracy on the video game industry
• DRM.info Information about DRM by Chaos Computer Club, Defective by Design, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Free Software Foundation Europe, and other organisations.
• DRM Is Failure, by Adam Singer at Future Buzz media marketing
• Defective by Design
• An example of scandal involving DRM (English Wikipedia)