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?"

Comments

You mother fuckers are pissing me off

[Anonymous Coward]

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?

Re:Geeks do- everyone else doesn't.

[QuantumG]

Music execs are.

The only thing really not broken... yet

[Actually, I do RTFA]

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

Re:Geeks do- everyone else doesn't.

[QuantumG]

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."

I don't like them Putting Words in people's mouths

[JamesRose]

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.

Re:All bank vaults and locks have also been cracke

[langelgjm]

Oh that music on my MP2 player.

Was someone a little strapped for cash?

You know

[SoulRider]

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

Re:Bad arguments and bad reasoning

[Braino420]

"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?

To read my post

[Geekbot]

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

Re:Locks are for Honest People

[tkrotchko]

"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.