Board Thread:Mod Discussion/@comment-23371555-20131124165801/@comment-24137988-20131206150108

Sorry it was DRM freeDigital rights management  ( DRM) is a class of controversial technologies [1]   that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright  holders, and individuals with the intent to control the use of digital content and devices after   sale; [1] [2] [3]   there are, however, many competing definitions. [4] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">With First-generation DRM software, the intent is to control copying; With Second-generation DRM, the intent is to control viewing, copying, printing and altering of works or devices. The term is also sometimes referred to as <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  copy protection<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, copy prevention<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, and <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  copy control<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, although the correctness of doing so is disputed. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">DRM is a set of <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  access control<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">technologies. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-act11_6-0" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-act2_7-0" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">Companies such as <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  Amazon<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  AT&T<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  AOL<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Apple Inc.]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  Google<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  BBC<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  Microsoft<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  Electronic Arts<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">, and <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  Sony<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">use digital rights management. In 1998, the <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  Digital Millennium Copyright Act<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">  <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;">(DMCA) was passed in the United States to impose criminal penalties on those who make available technologies whose primary purpose and function are to circumvent content protection technologies. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">The use of digital rights management is not universally accepted. Some content providers claim that DRM is necessary to fight copyright infringement online and that it can help the copyright holder maintain artistic control<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]  or ensure continued revenue streams.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]  Proponents argue that digital locks should be considered necessary to prevent "intellectual property" from being copied freely, just as physical locks are needed to prevent personal property from being stolen.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cbc_12-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  Those opposed to DRM contend there is no evidence that DRM helps prevent copyright infringement, arguing instead that it serves only to inconvenience legitimate customers, and that DRM helps big business stifle innovation and competition.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[13]  Furthermore, works can become permanently inaccessible if the DRM scheme changes or if the service is discontinued.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-opensource1_14-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[14]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">Digital locks placed in accordance with DRM policies can also restrict users from doing something perfectly legal, such as making backup copies of CDs or DVDs, lending materials out through a library, accessing works in the public domain, or using copyrighted materials for research and education under fair use laws.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-cbc_12-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  Some opponents, such as the Free Software Foundation (FSF) through itsDefective by Design campaign, maintain that the use of the word "rights" is misleading and suggest that people instead use the term "digital restrictions management".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[15]  Their position is that copyright holders are restricting the use of material in ways that are beyond the scope of existing copyright laws, and should not be covered by future laws.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[16]  The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the FSF consider the use of DRM systems to be anti-competitive practice.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[17] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[18]