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Bob Russell · 09-21-2006, 07:33 PM

We always tend to think of DRM as a technology that annoys consumers. And granted, that's true. But there are two other sides of DRM to remember.

First of all, until something changes drastically, DRM actually enables us to have some e-book content that publishers would be otherwise reluctant to release. It may not be as user-friendly as we wish, and it may feel like we are renting e-novels instead of buying them. But that might just be better than nothing until we have another alternative.

Well, how about one more side of DRM that we don't think about much... DRM for corporate uses. There's a really excellent survey of DRM technology and it's role in corporate settings. He even gives some direction and motivation for those who are trying to get started, and have intellectual property in need of protection.

Here's how he contrasts the purpose of enterprise DRM from consumer DRM. "Most of the standalone DRM market has been devoted, thus far, to consumer-oriented copyrighted material like software, music, and video, where content providers, publishers, and distributors have extremely high interest in ensuring that people that access their information have paid for it.

Add the word 'Enterprise,' and we’re no longer just talking about meticulously scrutinized and thoroughly reviewed, copyrighted, legally approved documents. We’re talking about shared ideas in the course of their development. We’re talking about the records of online brainstorming sessions, review processes, and communications. We’re talking about information vital to the future of your business. Information that in competitors’ hands, whether accessible to them directly or published on a rumor blog, could spell disaster for your newest, most promising product and service initiatives."

You might not agree with everything he says, but it's a great article even if you hate DRM.

Via Shore Communications.

09-21-2006, 07:33 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	The other sides of DRM We always tend to think of DRM as a technology that annoys consumers. And granted, that's true. But there are two other sides of DRM to remember. First of all, until something changes drastically, DRM actually enables us to have some e-book content that publishers would be otherwise reluctant to release. It may not be as user-friendly as we wish, and it may feel like we are renting e-novels instead of buying them. But that might just be better than nothing until we have another alternative. Well, how about one more side of DRM that we don't think about much... DRM for corporate uses. There's a really excellent survey of DRM technology and it's role in corporate settings. He even gives some direction and motivation for those who are trying to get started, and have intellectual property in need of protection. Here's how he contrasts the purpose of enterprise DRM from consumer DRM. "Most of the standalone DRM market has been devoted, thus far, to consumer-oriented copyrighted material like software, music, and video, where content providers, publishers, and distributors have extremely high interest in ensuring that people that access their information have paid for it. Add the word 'Enterprise,' and we’re no longer just talking about meticulously scrutinized and thoroughly reviewed, copyrighted, legally approved documents. We’re talking about shared ideas in the course of their development. We’re talking about the records of online brainstorming sessions, review processes, and communications. We’re talking about information vital to the future of your business. Information that in competitors’ hands, whether accessible to them directly or published on a rumor blog, could spell disaster for your newest, most promising product and service initiatives." You might not agree with everything he says, but it's a great article even if you hate DRM. Via Shore Communications.