Isn't the cat kind of out of the bag?

cobaltage

I was just thinking I was sick of all of the existing DRM schemes, and that my legal purchases need to be locked up in a new and exciting one!

Oh man, you just reminded me of bad memories with SDMI. That did not do anything to help piracy. What it did do was ensure that any DAT or Mini-Disc recordings you made yourself of your own band could not be digitally transferred to another band member, but had to be re-recorded in analog.

Then this little thing called Mp3 came along.....

noamjamski

@cynu414: Nope! They want you to buy the "file" and then have something like a password system to "load" it onto your device from a single server. This is really a subscription idea in sheeps clothing. "Your" content would never really be yours.

nightsky

"Buy once, play anywhere," isn't that the same as DRM free?

cynu414

This is AWESOME! I really cant wait to have another format that wont play on X (non DECE) device that I buy... causing me to purchase all of my media yet again.

praevalesco

"store that media in a "virtual library" to be accessed at home or on the road"

yeah, that'll work

....until someone changes their mind about the rules, charges etc

..... geez - what is it about this kind of numb-nuts thinking - you'd have thought that these companies would actually employ people who understand what the consumer actually wants by now rather than thinking how can I screw the consumer even more

media_lush

Hey, how about this. Why don't you just put no DRM?? M'kay?

y2julio

@nightsky: Those sneaky bastards.

cynu414

I'm skeptical about this working. Very few of those names up there have earned my trust over the years. However, I think the more players that this works with (assuming it works at all), the better for the consumer.

Unfortunately, DRM on video isn't going away anytime soon, so in the meantime, we should make sure the DRM that is there works with as many devices and platforms as possible. After all, the fractured approach is part of what makes current DRM - be it Windows Media or Fairplay - such a horrible thing to begin with.

Since Apple claims to be pushing away from crippling DRM (and possibly DRM in general), I'm shocked to see they don't support a standard that is allegedly intended to help the consumer. Then again, maybe I'm shouldn't be surprised by Apple's decision at all.

We'll see how well this works. But, again, I'm skeptical.

DW

Wait a minute. I see Microsoft on that list. Did people forget all about being screwed by them with PlayForSure?

Ken_Darrow

Or we could go DRM-free, use the free Ogg standard, and the world would be a better, happier place.

Of course, that'll never happen.

kanon

So they'll be strong arming manufacturers to use their super DRM software. OR ELSE! The first clue of total BS is when any company on this list and the words, 'great news for consumers' occurs in the same article. Frack this.

blacktop

As much as hippies and cheapskates don't like DRM, it really does serve a legitimate purpose - that is, it protects the intellectual property rights of whoever is selling the DRM'd media. Granted, its current implementation leaves very much to be desired, and from a consumer perspective, DRM-free does look much nicer, but it is nevertheless a necessary evil.

With a good stroke of luck, this might just become a major step towards making a DRM format that every company is happy with, works on all of the devices a given consumer may own, and allows for re-downloading of already purchased content.

Personally, I'd love it if there would be an international treaty to give everyone a global ID linked to all the commercial services they're using, as it'd instantly become very easy for DRM to be tied to one given person, no matter where they are or what devices they're using, among many other nice conveniences. Of course, then you'd get militant libertarians, end-time Christians, and paranoid schizophrenics alike up in arms, making a lot of head-splitting ruckus. Can't have something for nothing, I guess.

DisposableInterloper

I hate how the entertainment industry is turning into (or has turned into) a content licensing cartel. I would be ok with a subscription service if it actually worked anywhere. I want access across all operating systems and in my car while driving across country. Whatever framework needed to play the music or videos must be open and available to all for integration. At that point, I might consider it to be a viable solution.

jonny6pak

Well...I might understand this if you can get manufacturers on board...But, I fear it will turn into another pissing contest and multiple formats would kill this idea.

If they do it properly it will turn out like Steam...pay once, have it associated with you and your login, and then download and play whenever, where ever. If we're talking movies I haven't already bought...maybe this is worth it. Music...no freaking way. Though..I still love me some hard copies.

MasterSauce

@DisposableInterloper: I doubt it. I think there's too many cooks in the Kitchen. They'll disagree on how to protect the file and end up with a scheme that's too restrictive.

I think a big part of the reason this consortium exists is that the movie and music companies are sick of being beholden to Apple. They want alternate forms of distribution that will actually gain some marketshare. Once they get it, they'll use it to bully Apple into more restrictive DRM or more tiered pricing.

ARP

@DisposableInterloper: The only purpose of DRM is to control consumers. Make the content they purchased once absolete, to prevent Fair Use, to allow regional price fixing, and to trap you. Funny how Amazon.com MP3s don't need DRM.

transzoo

DRM is a waste of money. You can spend millions of dollars and man hours, yet only x days after release it's broke. DVD, Blu-ray, iPod, etc. have all tried this and failed.

Better idea: quit wasting money on it and alienating your customers and they might WANT to pay you for it.

DvBoard

"We formed this consortium to give consumers that kind of power and choice"

a consortium will NEVER "give you power and choice"

you already have the power, your purchasing power.

say no

godwhacker

I hate drm but i understand and agree that everyone deserves to be paid for their work.But here is the truth the record and movie companies have never treated us fairly and never will if they believe they have us locked in and all our music on their servers they will screw us hoarse.Remember the creation of the cd?When everyone starts useing them prices will come down.These people just want to destroy apple and own your ass why else give amazon drm free music but not apple?

donkill

@nightsky: Heh, your comment gave me a little chuckle. Mainly, because you're right.

A while back at the beginning of the year, I got the chance to speak with one of the members of the Piracy unit for a large movie studio which, for legal purposes, I will keep out of this post. Basically, some of the content that the production company I work for had created was leaked before it was released, and so this gentleman I was speaking with was supposed to help my company pursue legal action. Around that time was when the RIAA was trying to get passed a law where colleges and universities would lose financial aid for their students if the RIAA had evidence of piracy occurring through that school's bandwidth. Me, being enrolled in a university myself, was completely against it. The gentleman I was speaking to, however, was not.

After getting into a heated argument of what I thought was right and what he thought was right piracy-wise, he laid it out to me on what he (and this studio) believed was the right thing for media:

Essentially, their belief system is that when you purchase any type of media content (eg: a DVD, a music CD, a song off of iTunes... etc) that you are not purchasing the content, but only a license to use the content based off the terms and conditions that the studio sets down. He went on further to explain that often studios whom release their content onto DVDs and CDs only allow users to use that content on the original piece of media. So, basically, for example, whenever you buy a DVD, you can only watch that DVD from the DVD itself. You cannot make a backup copy of that DVD, put the content of that DVD onto a portable media device regardless of whether or not it is your own device, or stream the content of the DVD in your own home from one device to another. If you want to do any of those things, then studios expect you to buy ANOTHER license of the SAME CONTENT which allows you to put it on your media player, or stream it through your house.

The same goes for online content that you purchase, thus the reason why iTunes only allows you to burn a song you've bought from Apple 5 times. In fact, some studios are trying to get rules changed for companies such as Rhapsody or Amazon Music so they cannot release DRM-free content.

Hope this helps a bit.

SomeoneUKno

@transzoo: True. I love Amazon's MP3 store.

radiochief

@DisposableInterloper: DRM at it's best, should care for the rights of the consumer at least as much as the copyright 'owners'.

What DRM means now is not consumer oriented. You have the 'right' to purchase a license to listen or view medium on whatever device it is made for.

Man, all of them- all the producers, and all the associations are reaping what they've sown. Discontent, unrest and anarchy.

I love it.

radiochief

@DisposableInterloper: Nice ad hominem. Very nice.

A global ID that ties all your services to you is NOT a good answer. If you think identity theft can fsck your day up NOW...

FredicvsMaximvs

It's just another DRM, nothing new here.

djangopool9

"a new digital media framework using industry standards" that will "enable consumers to acquire and play content across a wide range of services and devices."

I liked the original version of this. It was called MP3..

ideaman2020

The crack will be out within a week. Your information stolen sooner.

Crowbot

@SomeoneUKno: Yes, it's very interesting and very telling to hear confirmation that they think that way.

But I've never seen [nor agreed to] a EULA on any redbook CD I've purchased. [And I've purchased quite a few...]

ideaman2020

So the answer to joe consumers confusion bout what files work on what devices is... create a new "standard" and then make him buy a new player that works w/ this "standard." But Honestly! This time it will work w/ all of your new players! We mean it, thats why were making it a "standard."

I didn't see apple up there. As much as a i hate to say it, w/ the popularity of the iPod nothing is standard unless apple jumps on board.

Oh, and my MP3 files already play wherever i want them to play and i didn't need a fancy little logo to tell that they were compatible w/ all my gear.

But honestly, do they think we are all going to fall for this, its just another proprietary format.

luciusad2004

Um yeah. Isn't this what mp3 and mp4 are?

whiteknight

I'll keep buying CDs and ripping them to lossless files, thanks.

Skorpius

I'm beginning to think that the real purpose of a new DRM initiative every few years is just to shoehorn planned obsolesce into digital media. It doesn't really matter how many people have illegal copies. What matters are the hordes of simpletons who buy crud like ring-tones and background images for cell-phones. They will buy everything over and over again just for the joy of interacting with the shopping system.

Bloodboiler

@ARP:
Well, I did say "with a good stroke of luck." I'm honestly not holding my breath here.

@radiochief:
Like I said, DRM currently leaves very much to be desired.

@transzoo:
First of all, region restriction is not the exclusive domain of DRM. Second, it is indeed meant, to a lesser or greater extent, to restrict the consumer, but as I've alluded to, it hasn't struck the sweet spot of user freedom and corporate protection yet.

As for Fair Use, that applies exclusively to US copyright law firstly, and secondly, it's all but evaporated with the DMCA, the WIPO treaties, and various international conventions. If you want to restore Fair Use to its former glory, lobby Congress instead of bitching about DRM.

@FredicvsMaximvs:
Firstly, that's not an ad hominem. Those groups do tend to get feisty over developments of the sort, each for their own reasons. I didn't say anything to attack them, I merely mentioned an observation, and hence, it's in no way an ad hominem attack.

Further, it wouldn't be so bad. Identity theft has gotten so common that most companies respond too quickly for the stolen information to be of any profitable use at all. It's only going to get better as time goes on. As for the function of such a global ID, it'd be a one-way street - that is, services can register with the ID, but the ID wouldn't be capable of accessing the services. Really, the only group that would get any use out of it beyond the consumers and corporations would be Big Brother.

DisposableInterloper

If I were a company CEO, and saw the track record and cost of DRM, I would fire any employee who even suggested it to me.

DRM is a "loss leader" at any company.

axiomatic