Blu-Ray Making DRM More of A Headache

Before I begin. Can we just bathe in the glory of that picture to the right. It's so...I don't know, adorable?

Blu-Ray and HD DVD have not been happy about hackers cracking their DRM technologies, called Advanced Access Content System (AACS) Advanced Access Content System (AACS) . Poor kids. Anyway the Blu-Ray Disc Association is developing a technology that is apparently more advanced than AACS, called BD+. The technology will provide a unique key for each disc, so that one crack won't work for another. That's funny, though. I can only imagine the kind of bugs and loopholes that technology will contain. I can already see them recalling a bunch of DVDs because they only play on certain devices. Also, they're underestimating the will of hackers. Somehow they'll find the common strain in these DVDs and exploit it. Maybe finding a film on the Internet will be a bit more difficult, but there'll be hackers cracking their own DVDs and spreading them. The only problem is we've got to hope we have the same taste as these people. To me, when there's a will, there's a way. And hackers are pretty relentless when it comes to this sort of thing.

"Once BD+ is available it will add between seven to 28 days per title to production time."
Which means more money to be spent on what is probably a futile venture. Maybe I'll be proved wrong. Maybe this is the break these companies have been waiting for, but I can't envision it. Let's see if Blu-Ray even survives, first. I'm sure if the technology is successful, it'll be integrated all over the place. I don't know about this higher quality DVD, anyway. But that's a whole other story.

Warner Music and DRM Are So Cute Together

Kind of old news, but after Jobs' open letter about DRM and digital music, Warner Music chief, Edgar Bronfman responded in defense of DRM saying:

"DRM and interoperability are not the same thing. Warner Music believes very strongly in interoperability. Consumers want it and consumers should have it."

"But there cannot be so much protection that you create a poor consumer experience, and we need to find a better balance than exists today."

He's right. DRM is different from interoperability. You can embed copyright protection software without preventing these digital music files from being played on devices other than one company's. Seems like Jobs avoiding that little piece of information. Bronfman has a point. In a perfect world there'd be some protection from the copying of intellectual property. But again, I've outlined reasons in previous posts about the benefit for the artists. You still have holes in your argument, Bronfman. For every DRM technology there is a crack, so instead of flushing away money on these technologies, come up with something more effective, and profitable. And he sees that in mobile devices, which he commends Jobs for realizing in the iPhone. By making the process of downloading music on a cell easier, they think there's a new, profitable market that could open up. I think they're correct in a sense. People might have a more powerful inclination to pay for music if they're on the run and are attracted to a new technology. But how long will that last? For me, I don't think I'd be any more swayed to purchase than I am already now. They'll sure make a profit from the devices themselves, but after awhile people will treat it as they would their own computer.

Anyway, it doesn't look like Warner Music is any closer to ditching DRM than they were before the EMI situation.

Sony Learns Nothing! Let's Hear It For 'Em!

And after all this? You still don't get it, kids?

The film industry is well aware of their vulnerability to digital downloading and piracy. It's only a matter of time before it sinks to the same pit as the music industry. Haven't they been taking notes? Apparently not.

"It appears that Sony's (NYSE: SNE) zeal to prevent pirates from copying its media products has backfired again. Consumers are now up in arms because copyright protection included on the discs prevents several of the company's DVDs from working in some players.

According to techie sites like Wired, Engadget, and ZDNet, DVDs of the movies Casino Royale and Stranger Than Fiction -- which utilize ArccOs DRM (digital rights management) technology -- won't play in some DVD players from RCA, Toshiba, Phillips, Harman Kardon and, you guessed it, Sony. Worse, some reports claim that the discs lock up the affected players and jam them shut. According to Wired's blog, Sony has shrugged over this, blaming the manufacturers for not updating their firmware."

Their own DVD players? Come on, Sony. First of all don't blame it on the manufacturers if your DVD players can't even manage this DRM technology. Wonderful business model: get both manufacturers and your customers pissed. Basically what your saying is consumers should get new DVD players every time you apply a new, ineffective DRM technology. You alienate the purchasers who are willing to spend the money on your DVDs and have no intention of pirating. The others who buy the DVDs to copy and spread are, at this point, are uncommon but keep updated on DRM cracks. There hasn't been DRM that hasn't been cracked yet, and it's doubtful it'll happen anytime soon.

Film industry, learn from the music industry. Come up with something else, because you're continuously throwing away money and betraying the loyalty of your consumers. I understand it's not the easiest thing in the world, but think long-term. Save it while it's still salvageable.

Also, does this mean Sony is further from getting rid of DRM on their music than we thought after the whole EMI thing? Stupid.