Digital Rights Management – Whose Rights?
You may or may not have heard about DRM (Digital Rights Management). It has been in the news in various places affecting various areas. Most often it comes up as a concern to protect copyright and fight piracy. But is also came up when Sony secretly installed a rootkit in an attempt to protect content using DRM. It also came up talking about trusted computing and protecting your own information using an Adobe offering. If Adobe or another program vendor hold the keys to your files, are you really in control of your information?
There are many red flags and concerns about DRM, and also lots of conspiracy theories. But before we dismiss the entire issue as being blown out of proportion, I’d suggest some caution:
- Computer chips are being made with DRM embedded in their construction, so this is something we will all encounter this at some point.
- Educate yourself and read about DRM and other license agreements so that you know what you are agreeing to, especially if it is related to your own content. Sony got caught, so do not assume everyone has your best interest at heart.
- Ask your IT manager to take care of your company’s data and not to allow the program vendor to do so. It is your information so make sure you have a choice.
This is enough of an issue that librarians are speaking out about their concerns regarding DRM.
Take time to be aware of the issues. Make sure that Digital Rights Management is not about taking rights away.
Update (April 10, 2006): Excellent article: The big DRM mistake