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Originally Posted by Good Old Neon
DRM exists as a direct result of piracy - just as security systems exist to prevent or deter theft.
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While DRM exists *as a result* of piracy, it does not *deter* much piracy. And what it does deter, comes at a price: insulting and alienating would-be good customers.
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Don’t blame the industry for DRM, blame those who attempt to circumvent it. Does it suck? Yes – but unfortunately, those who feel as though they are entitled to free software are to blame, while honest folks have to suffer the consequences.
DRM may not stop piracy, but it does deter some folks who might otherwise download illegally.
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And it causes others to seek DRM-free copies, if the DRM doesn't work as it's supposed to. And once a person has found a source of cracked content, they're more likely to look for it in the future; a single bad DRM experience can drive a person to the darknet for that book, followed by checking the P2P sites *first* for their next book, rather than risk paying for a product that doesn't work.
The issue isn't whether DRM provides security--it's whether it costs them more paying customers than it prevents copies. A security system that works by flashing a strobe light and setting off a foghorn, will indeed keep your store from most casual theft... and keep away most casual customers as well, especially if it goes off when someone hasn't tried to steal anything.