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Originally Posted by rogerVA
So everybody seems in agreement that DRM books ARE a useful, needed and fair thing afterall? Just kidding.  Wow, I'm proud to have started the week's best thread (lol) and in all seriousness I have appreciated the replies. I've learned MUCH and now finally have a grasp on the DRM issue and will approach it accordingly. Thanks. |
In all seriousness, glad to have been of help. Conceptually, all data is immortal. You could copy and recopy as media changes, as long as there is a processor that will execute it. This is at odds with data producers, who want the old data to disappear, to make room (and demand) for new data.
Example, you can get emulators to mimic old processors, and let you run old programs/data. Apple II, Atari machines, even the ancient C/PM programs running on the original 8 bit Intel 8080 processors. If the program is unencrypted, and you have a way to get it onto the modern machine, you're in business.
Because of this, data accumulates. And after a while, you find that either you decide to go the rental model, and never keep anything; or the ownership model, in which you will eventually get to the point that you have so much data, you stop buying and just keep using what you've got.
Either is all right, It's a matter of taste. Unfortunately, there is a trend being pushed today (Cloud Computing) to force people to the rent only model. Why forced? Because if the owners of new data will only allow rental, the buyer concept is scrapped. This has happened to Gadgets, look how many no longer have user-replaceable batteries. Such gadgets are long term rentals, when the battery dies, so does the gadget. I have a batteryless (early solar power) calculator. Ir's 27+ years old, and still works fine. No Lithium ion will last past 5 years...