Content industry demands the right to self-destruct.
Is it me or does it seem to everyone that the entire content industry considers each and every one of its customers to be theives, just waiting to steal their content and distribute it across the world for free.
They continue to insist that the technology industry develop techniques to prevent people from copying their “premium content”. Technology companies must bow to the whims and wishes of the content providers, and give them the ultimate veto power over who may, or may not, view their content. In a way this is entirely their right but there is also a flaw in the philosophy being developed here.
The simple fact is that the content industry is treating their own customers as criminals, while not significantly affecting the actual criminals in any way. DRM, Digital Rights Management, Content Protection and all the other schemes that have been created to “protect” content are fundamentally flawed and cannot stand the test of time. It is inevitable that all forms of DRM can, and will, be cracked, copied, reproduced and distributed across the planet. I’m not enough of an expert to explain why this is true but I’m certain that Cory Doctorow can point you in the right direction.
So, the only people for whom DRM becomes an encumberance is the user who legally purchases their content. The customer who has no intention to steal, copy, fold, spindle or mutilate the content they are acquiring. The only people who will ever be angered by DRM will be the very same people who are actually supporting the content providers.
Does that really sound like a good idea?
