Quote:
Originally Posted by sourcejedi
Perhaps DRM can be made to work, once it's supported in hardware. I'm biased; I'm politically opposed to it. If you really want DRM that makes sure no-one can upload your work to a torrent, you need to control the reader software. You can't do it without imposing lock-in. You either have to have multiple incompatible systems, which is bad for consumers - or a monopoly (ditto).
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I agree that hardware needs to support any security system. I disagree that such a thing would be that bad for consumers. I liken it to the government action to force copier companies to build in a circuit that would automatically detect someone trying to make copies of legal tender, and shut down the copier until the authorities could pay you a friendly visit. Most consumers didn't even know it was there (many have still never heard of it), and it didn't impact copying of anything else.
I think a hardware/software combination could be relatively unobtrusive and easy to use, enough that consumers would quickly get used to using it, and eventually wouldn't give it a second thought. It would require quite a bit of across-the-board standardization in electronics and document HW/SW, but I don't see standardization as a bad thing, either... I think too many proprietary systems are one of the things souring the digital experience at present.