Should the Music You Purchase Be Locked? - Part.2

I want to continue talking about DRM. I don't like DRM on the files. Of course, I could understand the side of opposite. I want to introduce why I don't like DRM.

Here are some more reasons.

First, DRM doesn’t prevent illegal use of files, it just makes it a bit more difficult to access them.

Second, all it takes is one person to crack the file and it can be made available to everyone. In other words, there is no reason for being.

Third, anyone selling content on CD is already selling unprotected files anyway. CDs are almost DRM free except Sony. After purchasing CD, we can make DRM free mp3 files easily using the ripping.

Fourth, DRM adds a lot of costs for content producers. They have to pay when they develop, update and apply the technologies. It is inefficiency on the side of cost.

Fifth, there is a huge hidden cost in trying to sell DRMed content. DRM files don’t have unification DRM. It means there are so many different kinds of DRM and devices are also different for each DRM. After all, even if the songs are same song, the one will be played only when we use the IPOD, and the other one will be played only when we use Zune. If content producers deal with specific DRM, people who do not have a support device will not purchase files. So, online store will suffer from huge hidden loss.

Sixth, often the costs of the DRM are passed along to the consumer as well. As I wrote before, development and use for DRM need cost. Usually, supplier will impose the development costs to the consumers.

Seventh, DRM-free content will play on your device of today. For this reason, it is not easy to change the device for consumers.Eighth, media devices of the future will be significantly different than media devices of the present. For example, IPOD will not be able to lead the top of the market continually. Many different forms of device could be released in the future but if the files what I have are DRM, I will not be able to use that files. Even if there are lots of files, there are DRM on that files, it will be a useless thing.

Finally, DRM fundamentally changes who is control of our media. It could be the most important reason. The moment someone purchase DRM file, he or she could be controlled by the other person. Even though we purchased the files by our choice and our own money, it is not free for using that DRM files. If we purchased the files from I-tunes, we have to use only IPOD.

In conclusion, I often use I-tunes to purchase music because of plentiful contents and easy procedure. However, look ahead into the future, purchasing the DRM-free music is profit. Because I will not use only IPOD forever…