The Inefficiency Of DRM: Empires Built On Barbed Wire Never Last
from the we're-still-having-this-argument? dept
While there's not much necessarily new in this recent TechCrunch piece by author Jon Evans, it does make a nice point that's worth repeating, in that empires built on barbed wire never last. The article notes that one of the problems of the old Soviet economy was the fact that so much effort was wasted on production of things that didn't really aid the overall economy, but instead held back others. For example, a significant amount of effort from the metallurgical industry was focused on creating barbed wire, rather than building something that might actually improve the economy. And, as he notes, "DRM is the barbed wire of the media world." It serves no productive purpose, but is simply designed to "protect." From there he notes:
Although it pains me to say this, it's the pirates who are on the right side of history. Empires built on barbed wire inevitably collapse, and the sooner the better; while this one reigns, it perpetuates yesterday's regimes, and squelches innovation and progress. Is piracy wrong? Yes, but that's the wrong question. The right question is, which is worse: widespread piracy, or the endless and futile attempt to preserve DRM everywhere? So long live the pirates. Those jerks. Please don't make me say it again.Of course, there's a corollary to this as well. If you recognize that getting rid of DRM helps allow for more openness and greater innovation, at some point it occurs to you that perhaps you shouldn't be so worried about "pirates," and can start focusing on actually using their enthusiasm to your own benefit.
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Of course.
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Re: Of course.
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And then there's
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2 Questions
2) Which came first? The barbed wire or the wire cutter.
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Re: 2 Questions
2) That is a misleading question. Wire cutters are an abhorrent technology that does not currently exists... I SAID DOES NOT EXISTS!!
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Barbed wire is not very effective for keeping people (pirates) out since they can figure out how to climb over it, climb between the strands, or cut it.
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Re: 2 Questions
It works wonders.
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Can't wait to see what the choir says to this one.
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Pointing out its inefficiencies is akin to choir-singing? Must be awful here for you.
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So …
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The second was a look at Last.fm's continual shrinking by the removal of free radio playback facilities (again down to regional licensing and restrictions from content providers).
This is the real problem, and one ignored by the maximists out there. Legitimate product is hampered by legal, technical and other flaws that stop legal purchasers from accessing and enjoying content. "Pirates" suffer from none of these flaws and can offer a superior experience, even if price is not taken into consideration.
Until the content industry realises this problem and attempts to rectify it, they're doomed, no matter how many "pirates" they shut down or wave DRM in front of.
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DRM we luv it (not)
And I bet petty data theft is a very minor issue.
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Great Article...
Much Peace,
Rich
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DRM was made by the rich to get richer off the poor
Blind support of monopolies is everything wrong with the world today.
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