Effectiveness of Digital Bill – as Good as DRM
It has been passed, but many still consider the bill as an exercise in futility –much like DRM.
DRM or digital rights management is a series of software and hardware gimmicks that software manufacturers practice in order to discourage pirates from spreading illegal copies of their programs. However, more often than not, DRM practices end up making it difficult for real consumers to use the software while a cracked pirated version of the same program will be enabled to run without DRM –making the pirated copy the preferred version for many.
Take into example the recently launched Assassin’s Creed 2 video game for the PC. This impressive little title places a player in a very interesting storyline of an ancient assassin that uses stealth and acrobatics in order to fulfill mission objectives. The game focuses on a single player storyline.
The DRM for Assassin’s Creed 2 requires a user to be continuously online in order for the manufacturer to keep track of the validity of the game copy. While there are many online games that require a constant connection to play, it is something that single player games do not need; and it is ultimately a cause of problems when users have no access to the internet or when the connection gets cut. The pirated version allows players to play without being online at all.
The new Digital Economy Bill also places a similar strain on the shoulders of real consumers that purchase official content. In the meanwhile, media pirates who continue to operate outside the limitations of the law will still thrive and flourish as they always have –and once again, the act against piracy ironically ends up encouraging it even further.
Read more about the Digital Economy Bill and how things will start changing at This is Money UK.
Tags: Digital-Economy-Bill, DRM, file-sharing, Piracy
