Re: EME is about restriction

Arni, 

The primary motivation behind DRM is for content producers to have leverage against device manufacturers - where 'device' in this context includes software players. 

See: https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z13qtnxhuojytbjbr04ci3cowrmtehsy324

... and note that the author is http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Hickson :-) 

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----- Reply message -----
From: "Árni Arent" <arniarent@gmail.com>
To: <public-restrictedmedia@w3.org>
Subject: EME is about restriction
Date: Mon, Jul 1, 2013 5:18 PM
Hi

From what I can gather DRM is all about restriction, based on some criteria. It has nothing to do with security of the content provided, e.g. anti-piracy protection or eavesdropping. And don't tell me DRM has ever stopped piracy.



Why, in the name of the "Open Web", would W3C consider adding a restriction mechanism into the so called "Open Web"?

EME/DRM will not enable Hollywood to make available their movies to the globe. Technologies already exist today that could do so, but Hollywoods opts not to for a multitude of business reasons. So, the justification for EME falls flat on its face, because one of the primary justification for EME is simply that, it will make available premium content on the "Open Web" by enabling simple use of DRM. This is just not true! EME will not change the Hollywood business model. Hollywood's problems are not technological of nature!


Besides, video content on the Open Web is HUGE and is increasing dramatically! What exactly is the problem that EME attempts to solve here? Seems to be a non-issue.


So, if DRM is not about security or enabling access to content by consumers (by enabling distribution of it), then what is it all about? Restriction, it seems.

I'd like to quote from http://www.w3.org/Consortium/mission:

"Web for All
The social value of the Web is that it enables human communication, commerce, and opportunities to share knowledge. One of W3C's primary goals is to make these benefits available to all people, whatever their hardware, software, network infrastructure, native language, culture, geographical location, or physical or mental ability."



I've seen some proponents of EME refer to how the IMG tag standardized the way for browsers to display images and that EME is just like that. The IMG tag is a standardization that helps make content available to people in a simple manner. EME is a standardization that helps to make content not available to all people, based on their hardware, software, network infrastructure, native language, culture or geographical location. (see what I did there?).


Thing is, it is a given fact that DRM, which EME is enabling, can only be used for that purpose, to differentiate between people based on the criterias mentioned above. I live in a country that is off Hollywood's radar, I cannot view a lot of videos on YouTube because of my geographic location, nor can I watch simple things as movie or TV trailers, because Hollywood's DRM policy excludes me.


W3C, wake up, this is what DRM is all about. Don't be stupid.




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Kveðjur

Árni Arent
arniarent@gmail.com