DRM slowing video on the net

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 20th March 2007
Comments (4) Stumble
Bram Cohen thinks that all video will come through the tubes, one day.

Bram Cohen thinks that all video will come through the tubes, one day.

Speaking at the VON conference in San Francisco, BitTorrent's creator Bram Cohen told an audience of technology pros that DRM is slowing the adoption of video on the internet.

Reported by EETimes, Cohen told the audience:

"We've got a problem we share with everyone. Content owners want a DRM, consumers know what a DRM is and they don't like it... We are using Windows DRM because it is the only solution that has been vetted widely, but we are not happy with how it affects playback from a technology point of viewit sometimes makes playback not work."

BitTorrent now pushes out legitimate content to users who are willing to pay for it. Movie rentals and TV purchases are controlled by Windows Media DRM, which obviously cuts out much of the open source and Mac community that helped build BitTorrent's popularity.

The site, Cohen said, is starting to roll out new technologies including streaming video and a free, advertising supported distribution service.

This is just the latest incident in a sustained campaign against DRM in recent months. Consumer advocates and even some artists are starting to rally against the restrictive technologies on music and video.

Have you tried the new BitTorrent? Let us know your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote DougEdey 20th March 2007, 11:42
Quote:
a free, advertising supported distribution service.

This has been happening since day one of bittorrent. Why should this be any more special?
Quote r4tch3t 20th March 2007, 12:39
Wow this is such a surprise[/sarcasm]
We all know that DRM is bad and serves no real purpose except drive prices up because of development costs. No consumer wants DRM limiting their use of something they bought.
Quote DXR_13KE 20th March 2007, 21:22
no!!! DRM IS GOOD FOR USSSESSSSSS!!!!! yessssss my precious.........[/end of lie]
it is not like this is new information, a lot of people already know about this.
Quote bilbothebaggins 20th March 2007, 21:27
Quote:
For Commercial Content that you elect to “rent” (“Rented Content”), subject to your payment of all applicable rental fees, you have the right to play such Rented Content on one (1) Authorized Device for up to twenty-four (24) hours after you initially begin playback of the Commercial Content,
Well ... nearly as at the video store ... except it seems my local vstore takes 1/2 the fee for a film ... and regarding of speed .... never underestimate the bandwidth of a man, his bike and a shiny plastic disc :D
Quote:
For Commercial Content that you elect to “purchase” (“Purchased Content”), subject to your payment of all applicable fees, you have the right to play such Purchased Content an unlimited number of times, solely on two (2) Authorized Devices. Those two Authorized Devices must be activated with the Service under the same account ID and billing account (the same credit card). You acknowledge that in this context a “purchase” is shorthand for a perpetual license and does not grant any ownership rights whatsoever in the Commercial Content. Your use of any Purchased Content is and shall remain subject at all times to the terms of this Agreement. (...)
Tell me ... why again ... would I voluntarily choose to pay money for something I don't own and that I can't play anymore as soon as my PC gets an upgrade ... pfffff (I guess I don't have any ownership rights if I buy a DVD either ... but at least I own a plastic disc in that case :) )
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