Quote:
Originally Posted by Lynx-lynx
My understanding is that there's no drm on mp3 music, so how have the powers that be reduced piracy for that medium?
It seems relevant to the question of attribution of a pirate's details in the points raised in various posts above
|
ratinox is correct in that identifying info can easily be included with otherwise unprotected mp3 files, though I don't think of that as DRM. I guess watermarking technically is, but meh.
But to answer the question, the powers that be have NOT reduced piracy by DRM for mp3s, nor ebooks nor movies, nor perhaps even software , though it's been years since I looked into the warez scene.
The reduction/suppression of end-user tools (Napster, Kazaa, etc.) may have reduced casual sharing, but I think what the MP3 powers that be did that helped more than anything was making the music cheaper and more accessible, and keeping the unencrypted mp3 format as the commercial standard. It's less worth the casual user's time and effort to try to pirate something that they can get for use on any device for 99 cents or stream instantly as part of an affordable service.
People who make piracy a hobby (or a livelihood) have not seen their activities reduced at all.