DRM =~ binaries [LWN.net]

DRM =~ binaries

Posted Sep 21, 2006 9:01 UTC (Thu) by dion (subscriber, #2764)
Parent article: Updating the Creative Commons Licenses

If some platforms needs a DRM layer to be able to play some content then how is that different from compiling code for a platform and distributing the resulting binary.

As far as I'm concerned DRM'ed content is as useless as a binary of a program, in that it can only be used on the targeted platform and that changing it is impossible.

Why not simply put a clause in the license that says:
If you distribute this work under DRM then you also need to provide the work without DRM, upon request from your customer.

You might add a second clause forbidding DRM in situations where it's optional (CSS on DVDs come to mind).

(Log in to post comments)

DRM =~ binaries

Posted Sep 21, 2006 13:06 UTC (Thu) by wookey (subscriber, #5501) [Link]

I believe that is what is meant by a 'parallel distribution' clause, in the article. i.e. you can distribute a DRM version so long as you also make it available is a useful format. This is indeed analagous to the binary/source case.