Digital rights management (DRM) continues to be one of the technology industry’s hottest talking points. After concern over the increasing growth of DRM died down with major albums and gaming releases dropping intrusive anti-copying technology, Microsoft’s latest gaming console – the Xbox One – has put it back in the spotlight.
The gaming console is set to introduce one of the strictest DRM policies for digital entertainment system. That is, it was. After technology gurus and consumers alike voiced their disapproval of intrusive digital rights management, Microsoft has put its ambitious copyright management plans on hold in favour of an easier policy.
It’s a positive move, particularly for such a large company. Microsoft had previously implemented strict controls on the purchase of used games (which were, at the time, unusable on the console) and required permanent Internet connectivity to weed out pirates. Both of these policies have since been reversed or severely revised.
The debate surrounding the policies has highlighted several shortcomings of severe DRM – the type that is being used by many technology companies today. The piracy-stopping measures were reportedly unknown to many of Microsoft’s software and gaming publishers, causing something of an ‘internal kerfuffle’ to occur.
As the digital gaming industry continues to grow in scale, many publishers expect it to adopt ‘Hollywood-style’ policies designed to limit illegal distribution and severely limit large-scale piracy. Kirkland-based software company Valve has implemented a system through its Steam platform that many think could be an industry model.
For home users, the policy changes are a positive development after what many in the entertainment and digital gaming industry have pointed to as a disappointing launch. For developers, they’re a revision that takes away a lot of the shock of the ‘always connected’ anti-piracy policies that are increasing development costs.
