Why does DRM exist? - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 24th Jan 2006, 06:30

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/01/24/answer_drm/

DivineSin · 24th Jan 2006, 06:44

I read that earlier today, really good article. Wish the average consumer knew the truth. We should start a Bit-Tech anti-drm group to spread the word.

Firehed · 24th Jan 2006, 07:34

Quote:

(Please note, I am not intoning that these companies buy government, remember this is make believe. The US governmental system is immune to such things, just ask them.)

*snort of derisive laughter*

This is why Apple is owning everyone - they don't have a record label, so they'll sell from everyone. While their DRE (and indeed, the whole pricing layout, imo) does suck, it's the least sucky of the DRE schemas out there. While you have to give immense credit to marketing, this goes to further show that if you don't treat your customers like crap, they're more likely to buy your product.

I had a minidisc player, and for a time period, I absolutely loved it. Battery life was oustanding (~50hrs of solid playtime on one AA batt), and coming from a CD player, the formfactor and lack of skipping was godlike. But then I had to deal with outright moronic limitations - you can only transfer YOUR music (read: ripped from YOUR CDs!) to the player a total of three times. If you wanted a song on four different disks for whatever reason, you'd have to delete the ATRAC-transcoded version and re-transcode it so you'd have another three shots at it. And I'll tell you, aside from the worst interface in the history of file transfer, making it so you could only have 1750 characters for track labels was effing moronic, especially as you could fit an entire four CDs worth of music on one minidisc (why they did a time-based setup rather than filesized, like normal audio CDs, is totally beyond me, though most of my playlists are only a few hours long). Where is it now? I have no idea. Somewhere in a ziploc baggie, next to the genuinely useful remote I had to pick up off of ebay for $40 (the player was $100) that even worked to some extent with my old discman.

Guess what, Sony? I bought an iPod. Because I can actually put my music on it. That key feature makes portable audio devices considerably more useful. I can buy just about any music ever written off of iTunes, and can - to some degree - do whatever I want with it as long as it stays in my house (come on jhymn, get it going with iTMS6 and maybe I'll actually buy something from it!). While Apple is rolling in pie crust, you guys have shot *off* both feet with a bad selection of music and horrific execution combined with a riot-inducing DRE scheme.

Overall though, very interesting read. I always knew that they knew that DRE doesn't stop piracy in the slightest (and genuinely hope that they're not so ignorant and arrogant to think that poor sales are due to anything other than crap content), so I definately had to wonder whether they simply like irritating us. Make everything proprietary so you're guaranteed that no sane consumer buys from you? GOOD idea.

Also, OT but sweet - found this link on opteron price-slashings while reading the full editorial. I think my quad-core ass-hauler just became somewhat more realistic.

[USRF]Obiwan · 24th Jan 2006, 09:31

"It is about making money, not stopping piracy"

This is where it is all about really.

Hamish · 24th Jan 2006, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

*snort of derisive laughter*
I have no idea. Somewhere in a ziploc baggie, next to the genuinely useful remote I had to pick up off of ebay for $40 (the player was $100) that even worked to some extent with my old discman.

you have to admit tho, the sony stick style remote is ****ing awesome, by far the best remote on a portable device i've ever seen or used

Spaced_invader · 24th Jan 2006, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

Also, OT but sweet - found this link on opteron price-slashings while reading the full editorial. I think my quad-core ass-hauler just became somewhat more realistic.

looks like it'll soon be time to upgrade my 242's wooohoooo

Da Dego · 24th Jan 2006, 13:51

Ah Charlie, a man after my own heart.

Bindibadgi · 24th Jan 2006, 14:15

I have to admit, I read that Inq article and agreed with almost every word. Its very well put.

speedfreek · 24th Jan 2006, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed

*snort of derisive laughter*

I forgot which show this was but I rember George Carlin talking about the "owners" of the country. It makes me wonder how much "your very own" senator or congressman would cost. I could get away with anything

edit: I just read about the opteron price cuts, oh yeah

Reaper_Unreal · 26th Jan 2006, 02:27

My god, it all makes sense now! How did I not think of this? Am I not paranoid enough?

DivineSin · 26th Jan 2006, 02:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper_Unreal

My god, it all makes sense now! How did I not think of this? Am I not paranoid enough?

you actually thought they were doing it to stop piracy..?

Firehed · 26th Jan 2006, 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamish

you have to admit tho, the sony stick style remote is ****ing awesome, by far the best remote on a portable device i've ever seen or used

Oh absolutely. I had one of the ones with an in-built LCD, awesome little thing giving track name and visual volume indication, etc. It was definately worth the price. I just wish the player wasn't so useless for actually listening to music.

RTT · 26th Jan 2006, 03:28

I don't like The Inq's style, tone, content or site 99.9% of the time, but every now and then they publish a gem of an article - and that was one of them.

Reaper_Unreal · 26th Jan 2006, 03:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivineSin

you actually thought they were doing it to stop piracy..?

Well I thought that this was their half-baked attempt at trying to look smart while actually understanding nothing at all. Guess I was both right and wrong.

Firehed · 26th Jan 2006, 04:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper_Unreal

Well I thought that this was their half-baked attempt at trying to look smart while actually understanding nothing at all. Guess I was both right and wrong.

Nah, entirely wrong, they just did a good job of covering it. I too thought it was just some sort of known-ineffective reason to file lawsuits under the DMCA. I guess the latter is just a bonus, not part of the plan.

Still, if a company sues be because I didn't buy from them, what makes them think that I'll start paying?!

eddtox · 27th Jan 2006, 11:58

Wow... This is just one of those articles which, when you read, you find yourself nodding to every word. The limitations they are imposing are unacceptable and we, the end users, ought to get off our backsides and do something about it. I propose we boycott all hardware and software which limits the benefits we receive in order to promote corporate monopoly. We pay for the things, so we should get ALL our money's worth. I mean, what's the point of buying a player which will only allow you to play certain songs which are chosen by other people? Do they really think they can silence and control us that easily? How long untill we stop being casualties of a dirty war and start making our voice heard?

DivineSin · 27th Jan 2006, 18:41

You can boycott them easilly..just invest your money in hard drives instead of media, if you get my drift.

24th Jan 2006, 06:30	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Why does DRM exist? http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/01/24/answer_drm/

24th Jan 2006, 09:31	#4
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	"It is about making money, not stopping piracy" This is where it is all about really. __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

24th Jan 2006, 13:51	#7
Da Dego Brett Thomas Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, OH USA Posts: 3,906	Ah Charlie, a man after my own heart. __________________ "Frankly that seems overkill. iluvtrees2 arguing with spec is the intellectual equivalent of a bunny rabbit taking on a pissed-off lion." - Nexxo

24th Jan 2006, 14:15	#8
Bindibadgi Richard Swinburne bit-tech Staff Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Omnipwntent Posts: 28,284	I have to admit, I read that Inq article and agreed with almost every word. Its very well put. __________________ Made you look, made you stare, made you clicked this in your underwear! Den of Geek!

26th Jan 2006, 02:27	#10
Reaper_Unreal Supermodder Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 380	My god, it all makes sense now! How did I not think of this? Am I not paranoid enough? __________________ If you made a Venn diagram, there would be two non-overlapping circles, one of which was labeled, “Times when I am truly happy” and the other of which was labeled, “Times when I am logged in as root, holding a cable, and have the case open.”

24th Jan 2006, 06:44	#2
DivineSin Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,251	I read that earlier today, really good article. Wish the average consumer knew the truth. We should start a Bit-Tech anti-drm group to spread the word.

26th Jan 2006, 03:28	#13
RTT bwarp Moderator Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Berkshire Posts: 12,987	I don't like The Inq's style, tone, content or site 99.9% of the time, but every now and then they publish a gem of an article - and that was one of them. __________________ This post is non-negotiable. All terms and conditions apply. Arguing on the internet is like competing in the special Olympics. Even if you win you're still a retard.

27th Jan 2006, 11:58	#16
eddtox Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Medway Posts: 345	Wow... This is just one of those articles which, when you read, you find yourself nodding to every word. The limitations they are imposing are unacceptable and we, the end users, ought to get off our backsides and do something about it. I propose we boycott all hardware and software which limits the benefits we receive in order to promote corporate monopoly. We pay for the things, so we should get ALL our money's worth. I mean, what's the point of buying a player which will only allow you to play certain songs which are chosen by other people? Do they really think they can silence and control us that easily? How long untill we stop being casualties of a dirty war and start making our voice heard?

27th Jan 2006, 18:41	#17
DivineSin Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,251	You can boycott them easilly..just invest your money in hard drives instead of media, if you get my drift.