A Real-World DRM

What if there was a form of DRM on our everyday household objects?

An entry for the Free Culture downwithdrm contest.
Released under a creative commons BY-SA license.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• downwithdrm
• dbdoct3
• drm
• adcbicycle

[guyrennie]

Pirates have bypassed every game that uses DRM to date...

This means that people who have a pirated copy have the full version and can install it as many times as they want.

However people who pay for their games legally own the inferior version, as it can only be installed a set number of times...

You can, it is said, get permission for more installs by contacting the publisher. But if they go bust or the online software they use stops working, you no longer own the game, but a thief does.

[MarvoMike]

DRM is over-used / abused. For example... in the UK, if you own a TV, you have to pay for a licence. The licence fee goes to making content for the BBC, who also offer their content online so you can view it again. HOWEVER... they use DRM on each clip, and also an expiry date.

So in reality, the licence fee payer is the producer of the content, but is only allowed to view it within a set period of time, after which, the DRM expires and it can no longer be viewed.

[mmffl123456]

I'd rather their be no gaming at all than gaming with DRM, all honest to god truth, I love gaming , but DRM just makes me TOO sick to the stomach.

[DrBassdrop]

Here is a fix. Pirate everything.

[SpartanM17]

@ahmadti DRM was made completely intolerable by Ubisoft, Microsoft barely did anything.

[ahmadti]

33 work in microsoft

[colouredbills]

clean your toaster you hippies.

[Gaiacarra]

that ending was just plain silly

[samerziadeh]

oh i get it

[taitai907]

I boycotted Ubi because of they blatant and proud use of DRM, but I returned to EA because, even as a pirate, they still let you play the entire game. You just don't get the sugar on top. If you really need the sugar, trust me, just use weed, instead, it does wonders.

[daemonpoet]

@taitai907 Well, not critical files, but still a heinous practice. Probably should have been a bit more clear with my last comment. I have personally boycotted EA for this practice since it is now impossible to resell games to people without screwing them. I suggest a read up on project ten dollar. But, I digress. If EA has truly done away with all forms of DRM, including CD keys, then they have made a great step in the right direction and for that I will applaud them.

[taitai907]

Actually, you don't. When they say "download content" they don't mean essential game files. They mean DLC such as new quests, armor, or weapon. I pirated Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins and was able to play them minus the DLC. I loved them so much that I bought them afterward. Basically, it's like the old days except, back then, you didn't have a lot of DLC. I really like this way because you get the bulk of the game. If you still want that weed, the offer still stands.