Digital Rights Management (DRM) Protection For E-Books, Mobiles And Other Content

Digital Rights Management is an approach which is systematic and is used for the protection of copyright in connection to the digital media. This is also referred as DRM. This is a big help in preventing redistribution of digital media which is unauthorized and also can control the ways in which consumers are able to copy the content which they have purchased. The increase in online piracy of commercially marketed material, which was proliferated using the peer-to-peer exchange programs, is the main cause of the development of DRM programs. This DRM can be implemented by embedding a code that prevents copying, also specifying a time period for accessing the content and limiting the number of devices to install the media.

History of Digital Rights Management (DRM)?

Understanding how and when to use copyrighted materials like stock photography, logos, videos, and more can be a full-time job. Using a piece of content incorrectly could result in a fine or even a lawsuit. On the flip-side, there’s also the possibility of someone using your materials without proper permission. Neither scenario is desirable — and without consistent copyright management, you might not even know it’s happening.

With new material being created at a rapid pace, having a single gatekeeper to keep track of everything is unrealistic — but you need some way to easily see how your content’s being used. That’s why many companies are turning to digital rights management (DRM) tools to keep tabs on their digital content.

 How does a DRM work?

Digital rights management (DRM) is a way to protect copyrights for digital media. This approach includes the use of technologies that limit the copying and use of copyrighted works and proprietary software.

In a way, digital rights management allows publishers or authors to control what paying users can do with their works. For companies, implementing digital rights management or processes can help to prevent users from accessing or using certain assets, allowing the organization to avoid legal issues that arise from unauthorized use. Today, DRM is playing a growing role in data security.

Digital rights management (DRM) is the use of technology to control and manage access to copyrighted material. Another DRM meaning is taking control of digital content away from the person who possesses it and handing it to a computer program. DRM aims to protect the copyright holder’s rights and prevents content from unauthorized distribution and modification.

DRM is increasingly important as digital content spreads through peer-to-peer file exchanges, torrent sites, and online piracy. It helps entertainment and media companies protect themselves from the cybersecurity challenges that all organizations face, such as protecting customer data, ensuring and demonstrating compliance, enhancing operational efficiency, and preventing downtime.

Benefits of DRM – Digital Rights Management

Digital rights management solutions provide the ability to share data/file but still retain control over who can access and what they can do. Secure file collaboration and the need to share files with sensitive information with 3rd parties is a necessity for companies of any size, in any industry. DRM’s benefit include:

1. Digital rights management educates users about copyright and intellectual property. Most people are not concerned with copyrights and are passive when it comes to DRM. As long as they can access the content they like, they have no issue with smaller details. With DRM in place, companies can communicate to users what they can and cannot do with respect to digital content.

2. DRM helps make way for better licensing agreements and technologies. Digital rights management technologies are aimed at restricting the ways in which users interact with content, such as listening to music on multiple devices or sharing content with friends with family. Users who do not want to be restrained by DRM codes are able to support vendors who offer and sell DRM-free content, thus encouraging vendors to look for other technologies that are better at licensing than DRM.

Types of DRM – Digital Rights Management

With relation to PC gaming, Digital Rights Management (DRM) is commonly used to refer to copy protection and/or technical protection measures employed by companies in an attempt to limit the manipulation and copying of game data and content by end-users after the purchase, download, and/or install of the product.

Technically speaking, the term refers to all form of access control technologies used to control the use, modification, and distribution of copyrighted works, as well as systems that enforce these policies, regardless of how it affects the end-user.

Methods and Applications

There are a number of applications and methods for DRM. Few listed below are able to give you a fair idea of what it is all about.

1. A company can set its server in a way so as to block e-mail which is sensitive.

2. An e-book server can restrict the access, printing and copying of materials based on the restrictions by the copyright holder of the content. This goes a long way in content protection.

3. A movie studio is able to include, in the DVD’s, software limiting the number of copies a user is able to make.

4. A music label can release titles on a certain type of CD that can confuse ripping software.

 

Prevents Piracy

There are many of us who feel the use of DRM being overly restrictive. But considering the fact that every time someone who is downloading MP3 file of a song which is copyrighted instead of taking the trouble to buy the CD, the artist who has created the song and the music label who owns that copyright lose out heavily. This DRM is perfectly legitimate and is one way to bring some semblance into the world of piracy. Not to forget the movie industry, which seems to be losing out billions due to piracy. The drm is able to protect your content and can give you that peace you so desire, helping in not encouraging piracy.

 

DRM and Mobiles

With the changing times, many businesses are turning to mobiles for their businesses. Being able to use drm in mobiles ensures the safety of your content with integrity. OMA DRM (Open Mobile Alliance Digital Rights Management) is a mechanism of DRM defined by the Open Mobile Appliance. A mobile drm is designed in a way that can keep control over the media objects. It can govern the usage of the content, allowing the developing of the new end-user features and mobile content services of different kinds for service developers, content providers, service providers and operators.

Industries that can benefit from DRM – Digital Rights Management

DRM solutions are software programs created to help companies protect and control their valuable digital content, whether it’s documents, videos, images or audio files. Most DRM solutions available, however, are outdated. They still rely on clunky 3rd party apps or plug-ins users have to download before they can access DRM protected content. A modern, quality DRM solution does not rely on plug-ins or apps, and offers seamless access to content.

As Tech Target states:
“Digital rights management (DRM) is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media. The purpose of DRM is to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital media and restrict the ways consumers can copy content they’ve purchased.”

Positives of DRM

This system is able to give the confidence to content providers by ensuring the digital media files are protected notwithstanding their distribution. The process of license acquisition enables companies to target customer information. A content owner being able to change the media file encryption keys on an everyday basis, or even after few hours, is sure of the protection. Getting hold of the best drm, you can ensure the protection of your content.

Use Cases of Digital Rights Management?

In today’s digital world, digital rights management is increasingly important, not only for digital content creators but also for companies and individuals that make use of digital assets licensed or purchased from third-party creators. Here are a few common use cases for digital rights management:

1. Digital rights management allows authors, musicians, movie professionals, and other creators to prevent unauthorized use of their content. It can also protect their bottom lines and control the distribution of their products.

2. Digital rights management can help companies control access to confidential information. They can use these technologies to restrict access to sensitive data, while at the same time allowing it to be shared securely. Furthermore, having DRM technologies makes it easier for auditors to investigate and identify leaks. When used in a business setting, digital rights management may be called by a different name, such as information rights management or enterprise rights management. Healthcare organizations and financial services companies turn to DRM to meet data protection regulations such as HIPAA or GLBA.

3. Digital rights management ensures that digital work remains unaltered. Creators often want their work to be distributed in its original form to serve its intended purposes. The FDIC uses digital rights management to prevent the unauthorized redistribution of sensitive digital information, for example.

4. Many companies in the manufacturing, technology, and biotech sectors store sensitive patents, trademarks, customer information, and processes across multiple storage platforms, both on-prem and off-prem. To protect that data and IP, they would need a digital right management tool to secure those files wherever they may reside.

Challenges of Traditional Digital Rights Management Tools

Traditional digital rights management tools can present some challenges. Some are limited by the file types they support (such as only protecting Office and PDF files). “Others have an inflexible framework that requires a client at all times, making for a more challenging implementation and acting as a barrier to collaboration.