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Filed under: Business •Distribution •Mobile Devices •

To DRM or not to DRM? That is the question for today’s digital content producers

Whether you a a video producer, music producer, audiobook producer, or the author of ebooks, if you sell your content, there’s really no escape from the question: “To DRM or not to DRM?” If you aren’t yet familiar with the acronym, DRM stands for Digital Rights Management, and basically refers to technologies which can limit digital content. Some DRM implementations aim to prevent copying at all, while others aim to limit the number of permitted copies. To give a familiar example, Apple’s iTunes Store originally created its FairPlay DRM system which limited playback of a file to a maximum of five registered computers. However, as quickly as Apple was able to convince content producers (mainly record labels) that they were better off without it, Apple gradually began eliminating DRM and finished that process at the beginning of 2009. For me, the question “To DRM or not to DRM?” recently demanded an immediate decision when I decided to release my book Unleash GoogleVoice’s hidden power as an ebook. Previously, it had existed only as a printed book. Although I had previously created digital video tutorials, the DRM decision for them hadn’t come up because up until now, my digital video tutorials haven’t been sold by themselves: They’ve been included with seminars and webinars.

Fear and resistance

At first, I didn’t even want to offer Unleash GoogleVoice’s hidden power as an ebook. I was terrified about potential piracy. However, as the tablet explosion grew, with cheaper and better Kindles from Amazon, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, the new NOOKcolor from Barnes & Noble, and of course Apple’s iPad (not even counting all of the new ones which were announced at CES 2011),  I began to reconsider. Then some people started to comment: I’ll buy your book when it becomes available as an ebook.

Enlightenment after research and soul searching

I began reading articles about DRM and piracy. Some of the articles said that despite some piracy, more sales occur as a result of it, because of indirect publicity. I remembered Apple’s applauded move to eliminate DRM on iTunes music. I know how easy it is for people to circumvent the DRM when they want to, but how they find it to be a chore.



I also remembered the negative attitude of the famous FBI Warning we see on most movies on DVD. Then I was inspired to take a different approach:



The result is the logo badge I created, which you’ll see above. Rather than assuming that all listeners/readers/viewers are thieves (the way the FBI Warning does), I decided to take a more optimistic and positive approach, which assumes that most purchasers of my ebook are honest, and just reminds them to play fairly with me, and other digital content creators. As always, comments are welcome.

Read Allan Tépper’s latest book

Read Allan Tépper’s latest book, Unleash GoogleVoice’s hidden power. More info about both the print version and the new ebook version at books.AllanTepper.com.

Allan Tépper’s consulting, articles, seminars, and audio programs

Contact Allan Tépper for consulting, or find a full listing of his articles and upcoming seminars and webinars at AllanTepper.com. Listen to his TecnoTur program, which is now available both in Castilian and in English, free of charge. Search for TecnoTur in iTunes or visit TecnoTur.us for more information.

Disclosure, to comply with the FTC’s rules

None of the manufacturers listed in this article is paying Allan Tépper or TecnoTur LLC specifically to write this article. Some of the manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs.

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Allan,I commend you for the positive approach to DRM. I also like the logo. There are two camps on this issue: people will steal regardless, and people will abide by the rules if reminded. 
There are many reasons why some people might want to circumvent DRM. The one at the top of the list is usually price. Despite numerous warnings and against my advice, most of my students do not pay for their software, music, and movies. Most of them are poor, and acquiring those without paying, is their only way to have access to the tools. The minority of students who do pay are either better-off or have been educated about it. They are the ones who have their textbooks on their Kindle or iPad.
Rubén

Posted by Ruben  on  01/21  at  07:53 AM

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Rubén,

Thank you! I am glad that you liked the article and the logo badge!

Allan Tépper

Posted by Allan Tépper  on  01/21  at  08:08 AM

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First, the logo is crap. Second, when I buy a book and then lend it to someone, you do not expect me to buy another book to maintain one reader per book ratio? Why do you expect this for e-books?

Presently there is no reasonable (from technical and moral standpoint) way to enforce the idea of being able to lend an e-book. If e-book is a file, I can just copy it. Sony (and Apple?) tried to restrict sharing by means of “check-out”/“check-in” concept, but it did not work, instead it killed Sony MiniDisc. Maybe some other facility will appear in the future, but presently you are either giving away your digital book, hoping that someone who paid for it will not share it, or you do not give it away.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  01/21  at  05:40 PM

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