DRM and the fight for media rights.

Friday!! Yes. I have many things to share with you today! First things first. As my introduction to mass communications class has exposed me to a new term, DRM. It stands for digital rights music and it has to do with controlling the content that is downloaded via the internet. As all who know me know I LOVE music, I was particularly interested in this subject.

Apparently, what DRM means for you and I is that anything that is downloaded from a particular website that allows you to access it can only be used in accordance with that website. In other words, you download something from iTunes and it can only be played via iTunes or systems in accordance with iTunes products such as the iPod even if you have purchased them. Itunes was a major component in this DRM battle, and the inventor of the iPod, Steve Jobbs was against the entire idea. While I haven't been able to find any DRM controlled media on iTunes I began to think what would it be like if all media was controlled in this manor and what does this mean for you and I?

As we all know, the fight for copyright infringement has become more prevalent in this decade. Warnings are often shown on the back of cd's and in the previews of movies that warn about the illegality of copying a movie of CD for sell or any other use other than personal usage. However, there is a way around everything. For example, mixtapes which can be downloaded for FREE on websites such as DATPIFF.com and mixtapetorrent.com have become very popular. Websites that show bootleg or illegally copied movies such as movie25.com and movies-links.tv. Is it really fair for the people who intend to get paid off the work that they produce? Whole albums can even be downloaded before the release date at albumhunt.com.

Although these types of websites are great for the thrifty individual who can think of a million and one ways to spend their money than "wasting" it on media or the person who is looking for a quick buck who copies these types of media for a profit but I still believe in going out in buying an album or a movie anyway. I have to question what this means for musical artists in the future and how sales will be affected. The last question that I have to end with is what do you think this means about how media will be protected in the future? Will laws become strict and will more media corporations look to DRM in the future to protect their product? Is there a way that both sides of this argument can come to a realistic solution. Just something to think about. I am out of time for the moment, but it is Friday and I will be back kickin some more knowledge. Peace.