Civilized DRM Debate Thread

[ETR3(SS)]

As the thread title implies, the scope of this thread is for a healthy, civilized, debate of DRM both pros and cons. Fact is much preferred over opinion or hearsay. I welcome all members of Subsim to participate in this thread. Hopefully we can shed some light on what DRM is, how it applies to us, and how it affects us. I think a good place to start the debate would be a definition of DRM. Here are three definitions I have found.

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

digital rights management
n. Abbr. DRM
The use of software or other computer technology to manage the conditions under which copyrighted material in digital form can be accessed.

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

Computing Dictionary
Digital Rights Management legal
(DRM) Any technology used to limit the use of software, music, movies or other digital data. This generally relies on some interaction between the media and the system that plays it. For example, video DVDs usually include a region code. If this does not match the player's region code, the player will refuse to play the disc.
(2006-02-02)

Originally Posted by wikipedia.com

Digital rights management (DRM) is a generic term for access control technologies that can be used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to try to impose limitations on the usage of digital content and devices. It is also, sometimes, disparagingly described as Digital Restrictions Management. The term is used to describe any technology which inhibits uses (legitimate or otherwise) of digital content that were not desired or foreseen by the content provider. The term generally doesn't refer to other forms of copy protection which can be circumvented without modifying the file or device, such as serial numbers or keyfiles. It can also refer to restrictions associated with specific instances of digital works or devices. Digital rights management is being used by companies such as Sony, Apple Inc., Microsoft, AOL and the BBC.