If we must DRM, maybe we should Navio?

[Bob Russell]

David Berlind, a writer for ZDNet, is unabashedly against DRM. He has even given it the acronym C.R.A.P., which can either stand for "Content Restriction Annulment and Protection" or the alternative "Cancellation, Restriction and Punishment" which was given by Richard Stallman, the head of the Free Software Foundation.

But now his practical side is getting the best of him. He says that he understands the fears that media companies have about piracy and profit erosion. (Whether such extreme profits should theirs to begin with is a whole different matter.) He says that he realizes that DRM is here to stay whether we like it or not, so at least let's pick a DRM that doesn't get in the way of the customer so much.

His first choice has been Sun's Project DReaM. But now he says there's a better choice.

"...yesterday, Navio came out of stealth mode with what could be the best possible solution as long as it survives any legal challenges that come from the Apple camp. Basically, Navio is an online content source for any kind of protected content (audio, video, software, games, etc.) and the company says it doesn't care what kind of device you have today or tomorrow. In what can be best described as your personal digital locker, Navio keeps track of the content you purchase in perpetuity and it will always make sure it works on your target device, regardless of what sort of copy protection envelope that device expects to remove. Because Microsoft licenses its technology and Navio is a licensee of it, Navio is a PlaysForSure-compliant source of content the same way Napster, Rhapsody, and other PlaysForSure-compliant content sources. So, your content will always work on PlaysForSure-compliant devices from companies like iRiver, Creative and Motorola (maker of the new Q smartphone)."

Be sure to read the full article for all of the discussion.

[rlauzon]

Nevertheless, it's still Digital Restriction Management and once they go out of business (no company lasts forever), you've lost the ability to access your content.