Logical Antithesis

Defining Ideology

Bear in mind that the kind of ideology I am talking about isn’t the needs of a society or culture, but “a set of doctrines or beliefs that form the basis of a political, economic, or other system.” It is this (second) definition that I will use today, and will show you an aspect of DRM.

Some History of DRM

The origins of Digital Rights Management are simple, and entirely logical. I’ll start this off in the software industry, as I was not involved much in music or in distributing it. But software, especially games, I was involved with from an early age.

The oldest form of copy-protection that I can recall was in a now ancient game, Star Control. If you purchased the game you received the disks, a manual, and a printed chart. The chart was used to prevent copying, and you got three chances to enter the right answer to a character asking you various questions. The chart was special because its colors prevented duplication on copy machines, but not on paper. Later, the software simply required the CD of the game to be in the drive until CD-writer drives became common. Then it wasn’t enough, and the software companies took new steps.

Now, the companies came up with a new method: special drivers. Initially, when you installed the game a special driver was then installed in your computer which would check special places (even specially crafted errors) and confirm the disk’s authenticity. But eventually this wasn’t enough either! You could just get software that would ignore the errors crafted to prevent duplication, and write them too into the new disk.

Now we come to more modern-day protection methods. It is mainly a tougher duplication method like the above one, but with greater risks. See, if you installed your game and then wanted to make a copy to safeguard the original disk, some methods would: slow your CD-writer down; slow your DVD-writer down; and even cause odd errors when playing the game. If this wasn’t enough you are now limited to how many times you can install the software you legally bought, and even must be connected to the ’net to play!

DRM is a violation of your rights, and forcefully violates your right of ownership.

The Problem with DRM

The ideological problem with DRM is that the whole idea is flawed. How do you stop a thief? Those who are going to steal software will always do so, or when prevented will find a way to bypass your protection schemes. So, with many of the companies throwing money at these futile methods … you, the legal and decent consumer, are punished for other people’s crimes. Yes, you are punished.

The situation is like modern locks. There’s always a lockpick out there who can open it, a key that can be duplicated, a passcode that can be compromised, or a card and pin-number that can be stolen or imitated. RFID is just another way this physical form of “DRM” can be used to abuse your rights. Only, RFID is the most insecure of DRM technologies ever. For less than twenty bucks you could get hardware, and with a little education from YouTube, you too could forge RFID “identities”.

DRM has come about to protect the income of companies, and software producers.

A Biblical Viewpoint

You may not think there’s an interesting viewpoint from the Bible here, but there is. What DRM does is try to control your heart—but honestly, since when has another person ever controlled your heart fully? DRM tries to stop the crime before its occurance instead of using the law to execute judgment against the thief.

Some scriptural references:

Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

As we see here, the sin/crime begins in the heart. Only God may legislate the heart because He has the power, but even He doesn’t dictate your heart. Not even Law can, or will, dictate what your heart does. And if your heart thinks that stealing is acceptable, because (for instance) Wal-Mart doesn’t sue for items taken below $50, then is that not a sin in itself? Stealing is stealing no matter the value, no matter if it is virtual or physical.

Proverbs 6:30-31
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

They may not despise the hungry thief, but the stealing is still wrongful and is punished when discovered. Notice the repayment required (by the Law) when caught: sevenfold. So, if you stole a video game worth $50, then you must pay $350 in damages; just imagine the cost of stealing Adobe’s Photoshop, you’d have to pay around $7,000 for one copy.

So, since God has said that the desire is just as wrong as the act, and that thievery isn’t just wrong but to be repaid seven times, doesn’t that constrain your heart? You, if you have software, have made an agreement through installing the software (via the End User License Agreement) to bide by the terms and not distribute the software. So not only do you break this agreement, making yourself a dishonorable liar, but also stealing. Therefore you break at least three different commandments, or laws, of God’s. (Proverbs 6:16-17 says that lying lips are an abomination to God, and by clicking that “I Agree” button to the EULA and voiding it you lie by breaking your contract.)

Consider the spiritual cost of software piracy, my friends.

The Future of DRM

The Dark-side of DRM

Sony had to pay many millions in damages for their DRM solution in their CDs. Then their removal software, commanded by the courts, could destroy your computer. I am not certain that this was accidental, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. I doubt its innocence because they could easily test its functionality, and because a company that would install subversive software on your computer without your knowledge or agreement is has an evil mindset.

StarForce could reboot your system without warning because it has access to the lower-level controls in your system.

Apple’s new iPod Shuffle has a DRM chip that forces you to use only the Apple-authorized headsets. Can you imagine the chaos this will cause in the market, when Apple controls 70% of the MP3-player market? By using this chipset, they can force any headset maker to pay them and bend to their will—unless you fight it.

Spore limits you to three activations of the game, period. And you must have the internet connected at all times.

Red Alert 3 requires the internet connected at all times to play, and only permits one install.

Television, which used to be free, has now gone HD. You are required to have the correct type of television, or a special black box. While it isn’t DRM, it is Rights Management.

The Bright-side of the Fight Against DRM

Many music stores have realized that DRM is a bad idea, and have been abandoning it. Some artists have embraced the DRM-free movement and have sold their music without it.

Some companies like Stardock require a simple downloader to get their products, and only require their products to be activated. Want a copy of the game on your laptop? No problem. Want to reinstall? Fine. Many games are now being published by publishers like these.

The best part? You don’t have to spend a dime to fight. If you hate the concept of DRM, just don’t buy the products that have it! It’s that simple. You, the consumer, have the power to force companies to bend to your will just by refusing to consume. Simply do not consume.