Introduction to DRM and how it affects our conception of what ownership is, what you can do with the materials you buy and (to a lesser degree), how it affects work in libraries.

1. DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
(DRM) AND YOU
By Marcin Marszałek

2. PROBLEM WITH TERMINOLOGY
 DRM means different things in different
environments:
Music/Movies/Games
Operating Systems and other software
 No one body defines the term

3. WHAT IS DRM?
Also known as:
 Copy Protection
 Copy Control
 Copy Prevention
 Digital locks

4. WHAT IS DRM AS COPY PROTECTION?
 Intends to limit copying.

5. WHAT IS DRM?
 Intends to limit copying or access to digital content

6. WHAT IS DRM?
 Intends to limit copying or access to digital content

7. WHAT IS DRM?
 Intends to limit copying or access to digital content.
 Used to protect the rights of the authors, artists,
creators, programmers, publishers

8. HOW DOES DRM WORK?
 DRM adds an extra layer of protection around a file
 It does so by embedding code
 Needs a key (license to unlock)

9. 2 GENERATIONS OF DRM
 1st generation
Limited copying.
 2nd generation
Limits access (what you can do with) digital content.

10. USAGE OF DRM?
 DRM is used to limit copying of and access to:
Music
Ebooks
Movies
Software
 Programs
 Games

11. SHORT HISTORY OF DRM
 Altair BASIC for Altair 8800

12. SHORT HISTORY OF DRM
 Altair BASIC for Altair 8800

13. HISTORY OF DRM
 Bill Gates’s Open Letter to Hobbyists (1976)
“As the majority of hobbyists must be aware, most of
you steal your software. Hardware must be paid for,
but software is something to share.”

14. SHORT HISTORY OF DRM
 Bill Gate’s Open Letter to Hobbyists (1976)
“One thing you do do is prevent good software from
being written. Who can afford to do professional
work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3-man
years into programming, finding all bugs,
documenting his product and distribute for free?
The fact is, no one besides us has invested a lot of
money in hobby software. “

15. SHORT HISTORY OF DRM
 Floppy disks
Paraphrases
Code wheel
Puzzle solving
Code sheets
CD-keys
 Dongle
Pieces of hardware that were plugged to a computer

16. SHORT HISTORY OF DRM: MOVING ONLINE
 Steam
 Origin
 Games for Windows LIVE
 Uplay
 iTunes

17. DRM PROS AND CONS
 Pros:
Help protect intellectual property from being stolen: in
other words, they prevent piracy (albeit not completely).
Helps transfer content only to authorized consumers.
Complete product and support: since hundreds of man-
hours were put into creation of proprietary software, bug
fixes etc. are done by the owner of the software.
(Maybe?)

18. DRM PROS AND CONS
 Cons:
DRM might prevent the possibility of making backup
copies of software.
Prevents lending of material
Limits materials for research/education under fair
dealing.

19. DRM PROS AND CONS
 Cons:
Creates a situation where you potentially have to pay
twice for the same product e.g. if you buy a computer
with a copy of Windows and then have to format your
computer.
Limits having the same material on multiple devices
since not all formats are compatible with or transferable
to other devices.

20. 2 FACES OF DRM
 1. Limits illegal copying and distribution
 2. Sets limits on access of legally obtained
materials

21. RELEVANCE TO
LIBRARIES/MUSEUMS/ARCHIVES
 2 different DRMs
1. Lending materials
2. Programming software

22. RELEVANCE TO
LIBRARIES/MUSEUMS/ARCHIVES
 Can be implemented in digital libraries by:
Controlling access to materials through encryption and
watermarking
Ensuring the content is accessed only by authorized
consumers and remains unmodified

23. RELEVANCE TO
LIBRARIES/MUSEUMS/ARCHIVES
 Limits coding
 Open software a viable alternative

24. DRM ALTERNATIVES
 The GNU Project
 Linux
 Open Source Software
 Copyleft

25. DRM ALTERNATIVES
 Munich completely open source

26. DRM FUTURE
 Is DRM changing?
iTunes DRM-free
Gog.com

27. DRM: ETHICAL ISSUES
 Do you own the material you buy?
Well, not really!
 Can you resell your content?
Well, not really!
 Can you modify your content?
 Well, not really!
 Where does fair use doctrine fit?

28. DRM QUESTIONS
 1. Is DRM an answer to piracy? Does it create more
problems than it solves?
 2. Where do you think DRM will take us? Will we
forget the idea of ownership for the idea of access?
Is ownership relevant in the online world?