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Real DRM
Cinematique writes "C|Net is reporting that RealNetworks has released a format-independent Digital Rights Management software called Helix DRM. Real states that MP3, AAC, and even OGG can now be released with a DRM wrapper. And this is groundbreaking how? More importantly, do they expect content producers and consumers alike to really adopt this?"
The main benefit of this (if DRM can have a benefit) appears to be that it would simplify things for hardware makers who want to support multiple formats.
Of course, consumers don't seem to want anything but the MP3 format, and they don't want DRM at all... it's just a press release. If there was any real consumer demand for it we'd be hearing about it from its supporters before the official press release...
For what it's worth, here's Real's Technical Details about Helix DRM. It's a bit light on the specifics, though.
It's Slashdot's evil twin... SlashNOT
DRM is only meant to maintain the rights of the RIAA and MPAA and nothing else. The digital formats for music have been under attack simply because the mguls had not figured out any way to successfully squeeze every dollar out of the digital scene. DRM is a non-starter, but unless we stop governance by the body corporate, we may have no other choice to obtain music other than enlightened artists who want to reach a different auidence.
Make a difference - support EFF, or write your Congress jerk. Ask them to stand up for the rights of citizens over the rights of the corporations for a change.
DRM and corporate greed. It's all about selling out to tell you what entertainment should be. This announcement brought to you by the good folks at the RIAA who remind you that you don't own music when you buy a CD - didn't you read your EULA.
Where can you listen tomorrow?
All Ad hominem replies happily ignored as the sender shall be deemed to lack the faculties to comprehend the equation.
You forgot:
3a. Sue people who complain that your software stealthily collects data from your computer
3b. Sue people who create software that lets you convert RealMedia files to standard formats like mp3
3c. Whine to the Justice Department about Microsoft
I've had no such problems with RealOne and I've had it installed for probably 6+ months, of course the first thing I did was go in and turn off all annoying features like that and disabled startcenter, or whatever they called it in this release. RealPlayer has always been somewhat annoying by default, but if you take the time to go into the config menus you can turn almost all of it off (otherwise I would have uninstalled it).
There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
OGG is a BSD-like license, IIRC, so I'd say no - you'd be free to not only modify the code any way you see fit, but surely the output of the program.
But say it was GPL, do the terms of the GPL apply to the output of a program?! That's ludicrous. Would a graphic artist who uses Gimp have to give has work away for free? Does your tax return belong to Intuit because you used TurboTax?
I don't think anything you do to an applications output has anything to do with the applications license.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Or you could simply uncheck the box in Quicktime preferences that says load into system tray at startup...
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. --Albert Einstein
The codecs and the file format itself are open, true, but anyone (including RealWhatsitsface) can do whatever they like with the files once those have been created. So it's perfectly legal to compress, wrap, distribute or even sell the files themselves. However, Vorbis-encoded files with a DRM wrapper probably can't retain the OGG format extension, as this would cause unnecessary confusion and player incompatibilities.
Hee-hee. Dying tickles!
For GNU/Linux there is a solution now: xine does pnm and rtsp real streaming. however, most codecs are available on x86 only. See the xine faq for details.
I wonder how this will be affected if their drm crap really catches on among content providers :-/
time is a funny concept
<sarcasm>
WOW! A wrapper that adds no value for me, and limits what I can do with the content. Gee sign me up!
</sarcasm>
-ted
This is just what consumers have been waiting for. DRM is going to take off like hotcakes now!
Now, how are they going to distribute DRM'd media? Oh, that's still a problem.. then why not figure that part out first?!
Mplayer works quite well for quicktime, as does the crossover plugin..I don't see any reason to bother installing the real crap to try to view movie trailers now.
...the free player is the blue link in the middle of the page saying "Free RealOne Player".
Fair enough, it's not the most obvious thing on the page, but it's not exactly hard to find, and you can't blame them for pushing the pay version.
Warning: May contain nuts
Fortune magazine has an article in their most recent issue covering Vincent Shear, InterTrust, and the recent DRM patents lawsuits with Microsoft. I wonder if RealNetworks' DRM suite relies on similar technology...
FYI, here is the link to real.com's site where you can download any previous version. I recommend using RealPlayer (v8), it was the last one before RealOne. Yes, you have to disable some things during the install and in the settings dialog. But it's not that hard and once you've done that, it will not take over any file associations, nor will it load any helpers at startup. Most of the complaints that I've seen about Real's crap is related to RealOne player. If you must use their junk, use RealPlayer. Heck, you could even download RealPlayer v4 if you wanted a pre-evil version.