Digital Rights Management

Digital Rights Management is a term used for technologies that control how digital content is used. It is the restriction put on digital media such as high definition video and audio formats to counteract privacy and copyright infringement. Digital Rights Management can be ensured in many ways such as region coding, copy-protection on media. If fully realised, it will create a significant negative impact within the entertainment, electronic and information technology industries as well as affecting the general consumer. We analysed the threats DRM poses to developing nations, musicians, general consumers and innovation along with discussing the motivation for DRM. However based on our research we realised that DRM was more harmful to consumers and content publishers than favourable to media corporations and record labels. We also presented suggestions which may aid DRM design and not upset consumers in the future. This essay was submitted for assessment in the subject 433-343 Professional Issues in Computing, in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 2006. The authors retain copyright (2006) of this essay. Permission is granted for non-commercial copying. The University of Melbourne is permitted to publish this essay in electronic or hard copy form.