Martek: In my book, there's the following equation:
COPY PROTECTION == DRM
They're one and the same, to me..
jsjrodman: Eh, there's a lot of overlap, but they're not identical.
For example, in the late 1980s, various games came with paper products (journal, code wheels) that you needed to have to play the game. However the game program itself took no measures to prevent normal duplication.
This definitely falls into "Copy Protection", because while you could back it up or use it on another computer without trouble, you couldn't easily give it to a friend.
It doesn't, however, fall into "DRM", because there was no code preventing you from exercising your rights to time-shift, backup, etc the software. Moreover you could resell the software completely reasonably with transferring the manual/codewheel to the buyer.
I agree with you about that distinction. However, that doesn't altar my
opinion that they're "the same". They are both forms of "managing the rights of the rightsholder", which is exactly what DRM means: Digital
Rights Management. Granted, there are "DRM-lite" methods, such as you described - but they are still DRM at their core.
Maybe instead of stating:
COPY PROTECTION == DRM
I should put it as:
COPY PROTECTION <= DRM, is in "copy protection is a subset of the larger overall DRM universe"
But basically, as
rtcvb32 says, I just "lump them together", hence my first "equation". :)
mqstout: Just because you feel that way doesn't make you right, because they are intrinsically different things. See jsrodman's post.
I'm not claiming to be
right. I stated an
opinion (I used of "to me" to indicate that). I still have that opinion too. To me, Copy Protection and DRM are effectively on the same
<i>Number line</i>. They just occupy different lengths and overall positions.
mqstout: One can be revoked/broken at any time for any reason with no actions on your part.
The other, while still vile and irritating, is at least under your control as to when it breaks or not; it's usually *the user's* fault if you lose access to the product.
Basically, they're both the same, just controlling things to a different degree. Like a 1-story building is the same as a skyscraper in many ways. Same in enough respects to call them both
buildings, although they do have many differences. That's what Copy Protection == DRM is to me.
Hope that clarifies my opinion a little. Not surprised if it doesn't lol..
Martek: Well rats.
With their
oft-noted apparent "if you even breath another word about this ticket we'll move it to the bottom of the queue" system, I'd be hesitant to ask about it; and TBH was hoping this would not happen to me although I thought it was possible.
Hope they get you covered soon (not SOON™)..
SirPrimalform: Exactly, yeah. I've not followed up on it because apparently it bumps you down the queue. I'm beginning to wonder if someone read it and disregarded it though.
Not sure if you've seen
<i>this</i>, but maybe you can inquire about it without your ticket getting thrown to the back of the line..