Digital Rights Management

Digital Rights Management (DRM) refers to any technology that controls how the digital content, such as audio and video, can be used and distributed.

DRM is utilized by the digital-content publisher to prevent unauthorized sharing. For example, the Apple iTunes Store formerly used a DRM system to limit the number of computers that songs allowed to be played on. Since 2009, iTunes Stores has removed DRM from its music catalog. However, television shows and movies are still encoded with DRM restriction. Each downloaded file includes information about the owner of the file and how many times the file has been transferred. The protected files can’t play on unauthorized computers.

DRM is important to digital-content publishers since it helps ensure that they will receive the appropriate revenue for their products. Although digital content is protected by copyright laws, it is very difficult to police the Web and catch law-breakers. DRM technology focuses on making it impossible to steal content in the first place. Typically, DRM encrypts or marks the content with watermark so that the content cannot be freely distributed.

Unlike iTunes, some online music stores use more restrictive DRM to allow downloaded songs only to be played while the customer subscribes to a certain music service. Customers cannot play those songs if they cancel the subscription.

DVD producers use a copy-control technology to prevent or distort copying of DVDs.  E-books are usually limited to a certain number of reading devices and some e-publishers prevent any copying or printing.

Some mobile manufactures also employ DRM technology to restrict the use of their content. On Nokia Series 40 phones, the “Send” option of a DRM-protected file is grayed out to prevent users from sending such a file via MMS.

By controlling the use and distribution of digital media, DRM helps digital-publishers limit the illegal sharing of copyrighted works. DRM in some areas is considered a controversial technology, as some people argue that it takes away rights that consumers should have. However, digital-content publishers believe DRM is necessary to ensure that they are paid for their products.