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View Full Version : Microsoft Increases DRM Investment


Jon Westfall
04-07-2006, 09:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/resource/article/0,aid,125323,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/resource/art...,RSS,RSS,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"With ever more songs, pictures, and video clips being sent over the airwaves to mobile phones, Microsoft plans to beef up its investment in digital rights management (DRM) technologies to help protect copyrighted material, the company said Wednesday on the opening day of CTIA Wireless 2006 in Las Vegas. Microsoft provided no financial details, saying only that the investments will be "significant." It plans to extend its Windows Media Digital Rights Management software to support new types of wireless services, it said. "</i><br /><br />Whatever one feels about DRM, it appears to be something manufacturers want to support to make the (sometimes seemingly paranoid) content holders from doing really dumb things, such as Sony's rootkit fiasco last year. While they were obviously wrong (i.e. we knew what a rootkit was), other content holders may see Microsoft's investements as comforting, allowing us to have more content on our devices!

PPCRules
04-07-2006, 09:20 PM
..., such as Sony's rootkit fiasco last year. ...
Somewhat OT, but does anyone here know the details on the replacement program for our rootkitted CDs. I was just thinking the other day that this should be up and running by now, but I had not heard anythiing. Anyone know?

On DRM, think what you might about Microsoft dominance, but, I think the best solutions would be universal ones built into the operating system.

Steve Jordan
04-08-2006, 09:37 PM
After the hell I just went through trying to get an e-book to open on MS Reader (read it on my site at http://www.stevejordanbooks.com/techlog/0406.htm#1 if you're interested), I'm not at all thrilled about Microsoft's increased efforts in DRM. To get me on board, they'd better figure out a system that works first.