Are bad business practices the driving force behind DRM?

In a CNet article titled “Software makers ready desktop lockdown,” journalist David Becker misses the blindingly obvious solution:

An ancient e-mail message embarrasses Microsoft in a key legal case. A leaked memo has Linux antagonist SCO Group scrambling to explain apparently secret Microsoft connections. A leaked message from RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser reveals his behind-the-scenes maneuvering to get a stake in Apple Computer’s booming iPod business.

All it takes is a quick run through the headlines to see why some software makers might think there’s a market for products that lock down common types of business documents by restricting access to authorized recipients.

How about: if it would be embarrassing to read in the headlines, don’t write it down. Even better: don’t do it. Nah, that’s na•ve.

,

Powered by WordPress. Designed by Woo Themes

This work by Ted Roche is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.