Andrew recently wrote about an interesting idea - a standardized, open source DRM system. The rationale and motivation is thus: Microsoft and Apple (to name two companies with a large stake in pushing the DRM-envelope) have both already developed their own proprietary systems, which both (aim to) work within their own native environments. That is, within Windows and MacOS environments, respectively. This is fine if every consumer only works in one type of environment, and never decides to switch. But for the poor souls that do decide to move away from the corporations’ comfort zones, they’ll quickly find that there’s no support for their DRM-wrapped media on the outside. There can’t be - the systems are proprietary on purpose, ostensibly to protect the rights of copyright-holders, but with the added benefit of pressuring the consumer to stay in line. Things are no better outside of the Microsoft/Apple dichotomy. Any users of open source operating systems like *nix/*BSD will similarly find their content held hostage by over-zealous DRM. And so, Andrew asks, could an open source DRM system be the answer? (more…)