The Technology Liberation Front - Latest Comments in Bill Gates Says DRM has “Huge Problems”

Re: Bill Gates Says DRM has “Huge Problems”

Noel Le — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:53:33 -0000

I wonder if there has been any effort by companies that leverage DRM to solicit feedback from customers on how to design optimal DRM systems that provide consumer experience more flexibility while preserving viable business models for the firm.

Re: Bill Gates Says DRM has “Huge Problems”

Crosbie Fitch — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:19:12 -0000

By "buy an artist out for life" Gates means that we need mechanisms to enable an artist's audience to collect a lump sum to offer in exchange for the artist's copyright (lifetime 'rights') to their work.

In other words, the audience buys the artist's art (instead of copies thereof).

Such mechanisms are what I'm working on.

Re: Bill Gates Says DRM has “Huge Problems”

Charles — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:18:05 -0000

Doug: I agree completely with you. Software is probably the best example of a digital product that's of comparable size to a music CD or DVD, and that has made (or is making) the switch from being distributed on physical media to being distributed electronically. There were no DRM protections in the law until the DMCA and, still, piracy has not killed the market.

Re: Bill Gates Says DRM has “Huge Problems”

Doug Lay — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:25:32 -0000

The best way to get "DRM" to improve is to subject it to the full force of the marketplace and the technological state of the art, by removing ineffectual protectionist legislation like the DMCA anti-circumvention clause.

Personally, I think "DRM" will always be around to some extent, but will increasingly be limited to high-end niche products (think of how software dongles are now mostly used in products costing thousands of dollars a seat). Other folks will of course have differing views on this. Let's let the market sort things out, by getting rid of dumb, failed regulation.

Re: Bill Gates Says DRM has “Huge Problems”

Noel Le — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 03:22:48 -0000

Gates is saying that DRM should be *improved* rather than jettisoned. The technologies and business models surrounding DRM are young, and they have to mature before they function optimally for both consumers and copyright holders. Personally, I think there should be more flexibility in DRM schemes.