So what's the point of DRM anyway? /extremely weak rant

[irishScott]

Since all media has to be played at some point, it must be decrypted. Therefore, anyone with a decent bit of technical knowledge can theoretically capture the final signal and extract it. DRM makes it more difficult, and I suppose it contains the problem from spreading to the technologically illiterate, but I know for a fact that it's easy as hell to crack audio files, and while TV's would probably depend on the brand/technology and require some hardware hacks, it's definitely not impossible. Complex maybe, but not impossible by a long shot.

If the cable companies switch to DCAS, then it's just a matter of time before the software is hacked, with no hardware hacks required.

And once someone with said technical knowledge hacks the system, the resulting content is copied and explodes on bittorrent and p2p networks, making it available to anyone with an internet connection. I could probably download virtually any DVD in existence now if I felt like searching for them. I predict that HD content will go the same route in the near future (once internet bandwidths are up to speed).

It doesn't take a genius to figure this out, yet hundreds of millions (if not billions) of dollars are spent each year on highly annoying and time consuming DRM. WTF. :|

/weak rant

 

[DaveSimmons]

Because enough people don't use p2p and newsgroups that adding DRM to stop simple copying is worth it to content creators.

Game consoles: yes you can mod them, but 95% of owners don't. So DRM keeps that 95% from using their PC's DVD burner to copy game discs.

Movie DVDs: we know about doom9, but most people don't. If you can keep most people from "burn and return" rentals, at least some of them will buy DVDs.

Music downloads: yes you can crack Apple and MS DRM, but for average iTunes users that's too complicated and so they can't share their purchased songs.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Because enough people don't use p2p and newsgroups that adding DRM to stop simple copying is worth it to content creators.

Game consoles: yes you can mod them, but 95% of owners don't. So DRM keeps that 95% from using their PC's DVD burner to copy game discs.

Movie DVDs: we know about doom9, but most people don't. If you can keep most people from "burn and return" rentals, at least some of them will buy DVDs.

Music downloads: yes you can crack Apple and MS DRM, but for average iTunes users that's too complicated and so they can't share their purchased songs.

There's software out there that will literally crack it with one mouse click. It's not complex to setup either.

Hopefully your first point will change as the information generation takes over.

Still, in the meantime: :|

 

[pulse8]

DRM is meant to deter the casual listener from giving files to their friends and to have them buy the same music over and over again.

 

[alkemyst]

The masses >>>>>>>>>>>>>> knowledgable pirates. However with the power of the internet it's easy for even a layman to search up a work around. Still it keeps a higher percentage from stealing music.

Most door locks are easy to bypass as well, doesn't keep anyone from just leaving them unlocked though.

 

[Throckmorton]

You still can't crack WMV DRM

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
You still can't crack WMV DRM

yet. Blue-ray also took a while to crack.