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quux · 06-13-2006, 10:57 AM

An excellent list.

You say 'DRM prohibits', but I think you really mean 'CURRENT DRM prohibits'.

Suppose instead of calling for DRM to be removed from everything entirely, we were all calling for a DRM system that preserved Rights #1 and #2 as you enumerated them?

I envision a system that lets me register all my content at some central server. Anytime I want to experience that content from a new device, I login to the central server and transfer the music to that new device. In so doing, that content is removed from whatever previous device it was stored on. So at any one time, my copy of the content can only exist on one player device.

Also, I would be able to transfer my ownership of any one peice of content to someone else. As part of the transfer, my existing device copy would be removed.

So, with the above system I would be able to have rights #1 and #2 as you laid them out. Some things that may not be immediately obvious in this system:

I would have the ability to loan my content to someone else for any amount of time.
After loaning to someone else, I would always have the ability to get my content back!
It could even be possible to get content back if a media player were destroyed (suppose I accidentally drop my iPod into the river).
It works for rentals too.
This service doesn't have to be provided by any part of the Content Cartel. Any third party could go into this business today!

Two things would need to be carefully protected as part of this:

nobody else should ever be able to audit that central server to find out where and when I was using my content, or even what content I own.
that 'central server' should actually be replicated to several locations, so that integrity of the database is preserved against disaster.

06-13-2006, 10:57 AM	#13
quux Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2006	An excellent list. You say 'DRM prohibits', but I think you really mean 'CURRENT DRM prohibits'. Suppose instead of calling for DRM to be removed from everything entirely, we were all calling for a DRM system that preserved Rights #1 and #2 as you enumerated them? I envision a system that lets me register all my content at some central server. Anytime I want to experience that content from a new device, I login to the central server and transfer the music to that new device. In so doing, that content is removed from whatever previous device it was stored on. So at any one time, my copy of the content can only exist on one player device. Also, I would be able to transfer my ownership of any one peice of content to someone else. As part of the transfer, my existing device copy would be removed. So, with the above system I would be able to have rights #1 and #2 as you laid them out. Some things that may not be immediately obvious in this system: I would have the ability to loan my content to someone else for any amount of time. After loaning to someone else, I would always have the ability to get my content back! It could even be possible to get content back if a media player were destroyed (suppose I accidentally drop my iPod into the river). It works for rentals too. This service doesn't have to be provided by any part of the Content Cartel. Any third party could go into this business today! Two things would need to be carefully protected as part of this: nobody else should ever be able to audit that central server to find out where and when I was using my content, or even what content I own. that 'central server' should actually be replicated to several locations, so that integrity of the database is preserved against disaster.