Human Factors in Digital Rights Management for Consumer Products

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a means through which copyrights can be protected using technology rather than the legal system. It is controversial because it allows content creators to control the level of access that users have to content they have purchased to a much greater degree than ever before. In additional to preventing illegal piracy, DRM allows content creators to prohibit the “Fair Uses” that the legal system has consistently protected. Human factors practitioners involved in the design of electronic devices that use copyrighted media, including computers, music players, gaming systems, cell phones, digital video recorders, and others, must recognize the effects of DRM on consumer product design. When analyzing user requirements, the interaction between DRM software and user behaviors must be considered. User interfaces should be designed to make the constraints imposed by DRM and the access that is supported easily visible. Including a consideration of DRM and its interactions with interface design will increase the likelihood that consumer electronics are successful.