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The DRM Scorecard

An anonymous reader writes "InfoWeek blogger Alex Wolfe put together a scorecard which makes the obvious but interesting point that, when you list every major DRM technology implemented to "protect" music and video, they've all been cracked. This includes Apple's FairPlay, Microsoft's Windows Media DRM, the old-style Content Scrambling System (CSS) used on early DVDs and the new AACS for high-definition DVDs. And of course there was the Sony Rootkit disaster of 2005. Can anyone think of a DRM technology which hasn't been cracked, and of course this begs the obvious question: Why doesn't the industry just give up and go DRM-free?"

17 of 543 comments (clear)

  1. You mother fuckers are pissing me off by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have this massive pile of digital rights that I really need to manage. Yet every fucking piece of management software I download has been hacked. There's not even any patches for this shit. How the fuck am I, as a concerned citizen, supposed to manage my rights?

    1. Re:You mother fuckers are pissing me off by gbobeck · · Score: 2, Funny

      How the fuck am I, as a concerned citizen, supposed to manage my rights?

      Well, you can surrender all of your rights to me, and I'll manage all of them for you.
      --
      Navicula hydraulica plena anguilarum est. Omnes castelli tuus nostri sunt. Ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta.
  2. Re:Geeks do- everyone else doesn't. by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Funny

    Music execs are.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. The only thing really not broken... yet by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is Blueray. That's going to last another decade.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
    1. Re:The only thing really not broken... yet by infonography · · Score: 2, Funny

      I used a Yellowray on the disk and got greenlit. Copy away!

      --
      Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
  4. Re:Geeks do- everyone else doesn't. by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, they really are dumb.

    "You mean you can supply me with uncrackable protection from unauthorized copying?"

    "That's right!"

    "Wow, and I don't really understand all this stuff, but when it gets cracked later this month I'll keep sending you your checks."

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  5. Re:The best DRM by User+956 · · Score: 2, Funny

    The best DRM is rot13. No one has ever cracked that yet in nearly 25 years.

    In the eyes of the DMCA, the best DRM is ROT26.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  6. I don't like them Putting Words in people's mouths by JamesRose · · Score: 3, Funny

    but as far as this goes: "However, like true Brits, they're soldiering on and releasing it, possibly convinced that it's not much use worry about what those stupid Americans are up to with their software schemes, anyway." I think they got it pretty bang on.

  7. Re:The best DRM by martin_henry · · Score: 2, Funny
    --
    www.purevolume.com/martyd
  8. Re:All bank vaults and locks have also been cracke by langelgjm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh that music on my MP2 player.

    Was someone a little strapped for cash?

    --
    "Anyone who [rips a CD] is probably engaging in copyright infringement." - David O. Carson
  9. You know by SoulRider · · Score: 5, Funny

    one definition of insane is doing the exact same thing over and over and expecting different results.

  10. Re:Bad arguments and bad reasoning by Braino420 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "When you list every major law implemented to "protect" life and property, they've all been broken. Can anyone think of a law which hasn't been broken, and of course this begs the obvious question: Why doesn't society just give up and go law-free?"
    Oh what is this, a law analogy? What are you new here? Nerds don't understand laws, they understand cars. Watch and learn:

    When you list every major car safety feature implemented to "protect" life and limb, they have all failed. Can anyone think of a car safety feature which hasn't failed, and of course this begs the obvious question: Why doesn't society just give up and go seatbelt-free?
    --
    They call me the wookie man, I guess that's what I am
  11. To read my post by Geekbot · · Score: 5, Funny

    To read my post please enter the first word from pages 6, 27, and 32 from the manual.

  12. Re:Bad arguments and bad reasoning by cdrguru · · Score: 2, Funny

    Marijuana and other drug laws absolutely keep some people away from the stuff. They (a) have fear of authority and (b) zero self control.

    We do not want to see these folks roaming the streets on drugs. A few times a year someone does something utterly boneheaded and gives their friend drugs. Then finds out their friend falls into the above category and get to watch while they (a) destroy their life with drug-seeking behavior, (b) do unbelievable stuff like burning down their house, running over little old ladies, etc. and (c) end up in a head-ward or jail.

    Some people do not belong getting drunk. Some people do not belong using drugs. Some people should never, ever smoke marijuana.

  13. my prediction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    My prediction:

    In a bizarre coincidence, the industry will go DRM-free right about the same time people learn what "begs the question" actually means.

  14. Re:Locks are for Honest People by tkrotchko · · Score: 3, Funny

    "They give people who know what is right permission to do the right thing."

    George Orwell just called and said he owns the IP to "newspeak", and he's giving you permission to do the right thing and stop stealing it.

    --
    You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
  15. The sony umd movie recording format by MemoryDragon · · Score: 2, Funny

    has not been cracked, but the only reason for this is, that there is no real incentive to do so, because all the movies are on DVD anyway, which is by now an "open" format.