The DRM Scorecard

An anonymous reader writes "InfoWeek blogger Alex Wolfe put together a scorecard which makes the obvious but interesting point that, when you list every major DRM technology implemented to "protect" music and video, they've all been cracked. This includes Apple's FairPlay, Microsoft's Windows Media DRM, the old-style Content Scrambling System (CSS) used on early DVDs and the new AACS for high-definition DVDs. And of course there was the Sony Rootkit disaster of 2005. Can anyone think of a DRM technology which hasn't been cracked, and of course this begs the obvious question: Why doesn't the industry just give up and go DRM-free?"

You mother fuckers are pissing me off

[Anonymous Coward]

I have this massive pile of digital rights that I really need to manage. Yet every fucking piece of management software I download has been hacked. There's not even any patches for this shit. How the fuck am I, as a concerned citizen, supposed to manage my rights?

Re:Geeks do- everyone else doesn't.

[QuantumG]

Music execs are.

The only thing really not broken... yet

[Actually, I do RTFA]

Is Blueray. That's going to last another decade.

Re:Geeks do- everyone else doesn't.

[QuantumG]

No, they really are dumb.

"You mean you can supply me with uncrackable protection from unauthorized copying?"

"That's right!"

"Wow, and I don't really understand all this stuff, but when it gets cracked later this month I'll keep sending you your checks."

Re:The best DRM

[User 956]

The best DRM is rot13. No one has ever cracked that yet in nearly 25 years.

In the eyes of the DMCA, the best DRM is ROT26.

I don't like them Putting Words in people's mouths

[JamesRose]

but as far as this goes: "However, like true Brits, they're soldiering on and releasing it, possibly convinced that it's not much use worry about what those stupid Americans are up to with their software schemes, anyway." I think they got it pretty bang on.

Re:The best DRM

[martin_henry]

no crack. [allposters.com]

Re:All bank vaults and locks have also been cracke

[langelgjm]

Oh that music on my MP2 player.

Was someone a little strapped for cash?

Re:The only thing really not broken... yet

[infonography]

I used a Yellowray on the disk and got greenlit. Copy away!

You know

[SoulRider]

one definition of insane is doing the exact same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Re:Bad arguments and bad reasoning

[Braino420]

"When you list every major law implemented to "protect" life and property, they've all been broken. Can anyone think of a law which hasn't been broken, and of course this begs the obvious question: Why doesn't society just give up and go law-free?"

Oh what is this, a law analogy? What are you new here? Nerds don't understand laws, they understand cars. Watch and learn:

When you list every major car safety feature implemented to "protect" life and limb, they have all failed. Can anyone think of a car safety feature which hasn't failed, and of course this begs the obvious question: Why doesn't society just give up and go seatbelt-free?

To read my post

[Geekbot]

To read my post please enter the first word from pages 6, 27, and 32 from the manual.

Re:Bad arguments and bad reasoning

[cdrguru]

Marijuana and other drug laws absolutely keep some people away from the stuff. They (a) have fear of authority and (b) zero self control.

We do not want to see these folks roaming the streets on drugs. A few times a year someone does something utterly boneheaded and gives their friend drugs. Then finds out their friend falls into the above category and get to watch while they (a) destroy their life with drug-seeking behavior, (b) do unbelievable stuff like burning down their house, running over little old ladies, etc. and (c) end up in a head-ward or jail.

Some people do not belong getting drunk. Some people do not belong using drugs. Some people should never, ever smoke marijuana.

Re:You mother fuckers are pissing me off

[gbobeck]

How the fuck am I, as a concerned citizen, supposed to manage my rights?

Well, you can surrender all of your rights to me, and I'll manage all of them for you.

my prediction

[Anonymous Coward]

My prediction:

In a bizarre coincidence, the industry will go DRM-free right about the same time people learn what "begs the question" actually means.

Re:Locks are for Honest People

[tkrotchko]

"They give people who know what is right permission to do the right thing."

George Orwell just called and said he owns the IP to "newspeak", and he's giving you permission to do the right thing and stop stealing it.

The sony umd movie recording format

[MemoryDragon]

has not been cracked, but the only reason for this is, that there is no real incentive to do so, because all the movies are on DVD anyway, which is by now an "open" format.