Why DRM doesn't work...

Seth Weintraub
|
March 02, 2010
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…or perhaps why making DRM transparent and easy is important (The Brads via @liza via @kirkbiglione via @siracusa)

 

Comments (36)

Kerryn (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 10:11am

So true...

shekar55 | July 28, 2010 - 8:36pm

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9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 10:14am

What is a bit torrent site?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 10:26am

It's a website that allows you to download digital files via the Bit Torrent application... peer to peer networking. http://www.bittorrent.com/

Pyrenea Mendez (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 10:37am

It should be noted that downloading copyrighted materials (such as songs, movies etc.) from these websites is illegal, and therefore shouldn't be done.

International Moment of Zen (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:17am

Hi. Let me welcome you to the wonderful world of the internet. You seem to be new around here. Don't worry. The internet has it's own reality, you will become used to it. BTW : The internet is made for porn.

Betabrain (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:30am

Sooo True...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 4:29pm

HAHAHAHAHA. Nice.

Pyrenea (not verified) | March 03, 2010 - 1:23am

On your website you attempt to draw a character from the copyrighted television show "Pokemon." This is illegal, and therefore shouldn't be done.

Ubersoldat (not verified) | March 03, 2010 - 8:30am

Not every where in the world. In many countries, if you're not making any money, it's not illegal, it's called "sharing". USA is not the whole world, and your laws don't apply everywhere... thank $Deity!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 03, 2010 - 11:16am

In Spain it's not illegal to make copies for private use. It's intended as a way of letting everybody exercise her right of access to culture.

It's a shame the present government wants to restrict this right.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 10:35am

The problem right off the bat is that they are using Windows and Windows media anything. I mean come on.

Chris V. (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:11am

There will always be those that create DRM systems and those that WILL eventually break them. DRM was useless, is useless and will always be useless as long as there are people that want to get stuff for free.

Chrup (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 6:37pm

I don't want stuff for free. I pay for my library through my property taxes. In return, I'd like to enjoy an audiobook every now and then, and it is best played on my iPod. But the media files from the library don't play on iPod and the days that I carried a Walkman and later a Discman around with me are 15 years in the past. What are the choices?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:17am

Bravo! Bravo monsieur! Well summarised! Haha

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:23am

why bother, just skip the first 19 steps and you're done

SHEFFmachine (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:24am

You also need to download a bittorrent client to download, don't forget

pixelbart (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 11:27am

Reminds me of this:

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/foto/366e78b1_dvdpiraat.jpg

You get punished for legally buying stuff, you get rewarded for illegally downloading.

If I buy a dvd, I rip it to my Mac so that I can select a movie from my couch, without shuffling with discs.

But no, some dvds are horribly copy protected these days (yes, I'm looking at you, Pixar). I can barely rip them with the latest version of RipIt, but encoding them in Handbrake is a no-go, and I have to sit through numerous unskippable warnings before I can enjoy my €15 movie.

Does it stop illegal copying? No way. You only need one good copy, for BitTorrent having less versions is even helping speedy distribution! And if copying is hard, the experts that manage to make a decent rip usually use high quality tools and package their torrents with everything I need to enjoy the movie! Thanks, studios, for not having to sift through dozens of mediocre copies anymore!

metatech (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:29pm

It looks like you are running Windows within a virtual machine (VMWare ?), aren't you ?
Did you try on bare metal Windows ?
Maybe the DRM uses some kernel drivers which do not work in a VM...

metatech (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:30pm

It looks like you are running Windows within a virtual machine (VMWare ?), aren't you ?
Did you try on bare metal Windows ?
Maybe the DRM uses some kernel drivers which do not work in a VM...

metatech (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:32pm

It looks like you are running Windows within a virtual machine (VMWare ?), aren't you ?
Did you try on bare metal Windows ?
Maybe the DRM uses some kernel drivers which do not work in a VM...

metatech (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:33pm

It looks like you are running Windows within a virtual machine (VMWare ?), aren't you ?
Did you try on bare metal Windows ?
Maybe the DRM uses some kernel drivers which do not work in a VM...

metatech (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:34pm

It looks like you are running Windows within a virtual machine (VMWare ?), aren't you ?
Did you try on bare metal Windows ?
Maybe the DRM uses some kernel drivers which do not work in a VM...

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:35pm

Anti-Piracy Ad from The IT Crowd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u547l4wNcs

metatech (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 12:36pm

Sorry about multiple post, it's my first post and the "refresh" did not show my comment immediately...
For the website authors : "Save" button is a bit strange, it sounds like the post is saved as a "draft" and not really posted.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 03, 2010 - 8:42am

You are "saving" an update to the post. The website's owner is using Drupal and that is how it works.

mime454 | March 02, 2010 - 2:00pm

I have done all that the graphic says. :) For audiobooks mainly

proprietary_sux (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 2:57pm

Don't get it. Never have had any problem with it myself. And Apple also uses DRM by the way so they are no better. You us a MacOS I suppose? They don't protect their OS with some sort of copy protection? This is like the pot calling the kettle black.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2010 - 4:34pm

Not really. No serial numbers or genuine advantage crap like windows. Just have to get around EFI and a few kexts and you're good to go on a hackintosh with compatible hardware. Of course you should still buy OS X to make yourself feel better... You're right though in that Apple still DRM's it's videos and such. Are ITMS audiobooks still DRM'd?

commenter (not verified) | March 03, 2010 - 12:13am

Why Not Shoplifting Doesn't Work.
1 Go to the till.
2 Stand in a big queue.
3 They don't take cards.
4 Replace items.
5 Go to ATM to get money.
6 It's raining.
7 ATM out of order.
8 Go to ATM in next street.
9 Queue.
A Get money.
B Go back to shop.
C Queue.
D Retrieve items.
E Buy items.

Or:
Shoplift items.