Re: Cory Doctorow: W3C green-lights adding DRM to the Web's standards, says it's OK for your browser to say "I can't let you do that, Dave" [via Restricted Media Community Group]

On Oct 8, 2013, at 14:17 , cobaco <cobaco@freemen.be> wrote:

> On 2013-10-08 11:10 David Singer wrote:
>> On Oct 8, 2013, at 5:48 , cobaco <cobaco@freemen.be> wrote:
>>> Thanks to that basic reality there is no noticable scarcity for digital
>>> goods once the first copy is created, and the creating itself is a sunk
>>> cost.
> 
>> It's not a question of wanting scarcity:  trust me, people who make content
>> for sale would be delighted if everyone bought it. It's a question of
>> wanting remuneration for their creation.
> 
> The right time to arrange remuneration is before you do the work, not after. 

You're seriously suggesting that movie companies sell futures in a movie they are thinking of making, and only make it when they've sold enough?

Or what?

> - DRM is not a selling point, it's a hassle

Yes, for everyone; for the content owner, distributor, and honest user.  I've said it before: no one *likes* DRM, they just dislike it less than all the alternatives they can find.

> 
>> There *is* a business model that leverages easy copying.  Create something,
>> and then sell the first copy under terms that allow the recipient to sell
>> on at any price they choose.  So, the first sale tends to be expensive;
>> you're going to be 'competing' with your first customer. The price drops,
>> and continues to drop until it hits the point that people feel they are
>> paying a price that's fair for their own enjoyment and they don't need to
>> sell on.  Pretty much around there the price hits zero -- someone buys a
>> copy and gives it away.
> 
> that's one business model that would work...
> - crowdfunding a la kickstarter is a second
> - distributed patronage by existing fans a third
> - loss leading live performances/related merchandise with digital goods a 
> forth
> - competing on accessibility, convenience and service a fifth (note: you're 
> directly competing with piracy in this model, DRM is not gonna improve your 
> chances)
> - then there's the alternative provided by creative commons type free culture

You really see these working for movies or TV shows?

David Singer
Multimedia and Software Standards, Apple Inc.

Received on Tuesday, 8 October 2013 22:00:48 UTC