"Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content."
The study of techniques used to protect digital content from unauthorized use or distribution.
Encryption: The process of encoding a message or information in such a way that only authorized parties can access it.
Decryption: The process of decoding an encrypted message or data into its original form.
Digital watermarking: The process of embedding a unique identifier or code into a digital file to enable its tracking and tracing.
Access control: The process of restricting access to sensitive digital content by defining user privileges and permissions.
Secure communication protocols: The set of rules and methods used to ensure secure transfer of data between two parties.
Key management: The process of generating, distributing, and secure storing of cryptographic keys.
Digital rights management systems: The technology infrastructure used to protect and monetize digital content.
Copy protection: The measures taken to prevent unauthorized duplication and distribution of digital content.
Digital signatures: A cryptographic method of verifying the authenticity and integrity of electronic messages and documents.
Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting digital systems, networks, and data from theft, damage, and unauthorized access.
Copyright law: The legal principles and regulations that protect the rights of creators and owners of digital content.
Digital piracy: The unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of digital content.
Hacktivism: The use of technology and hacking skills for political, social, or ethical reasons.
Cryptography: The practice of secure communication using various encryption and decryption techniques.
Public key infrastructure: The set of protocols and services used to secure electronic communication and transactions using digital certificates.
Network security: The measures and procedures used to protect computer networks from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Digital forensics: The application of scientific techniques to examine and recover digital information for legal purposes.
Trusted computing: The technology that ensures the integrity and accuracy of computing systems and data.
Steganography: The technique of concealing secret data within a non-secret file or message.
Malware protection: The measures and tools used to prevent, detect, and remove malicious software and viruses from digital systems.
Hardware-based DRM: This is a type of DRM that is implemented through hardware devices, such as secure chips or dongles, that restrict access to the protected content.
Software-based DRM: This is a type of DRM that uses software to restrict access to the protected content. This type of DRM can be bypassed in many cases by determined hackers.
Watermarking: This is a technique that embeds a unique identifier in each copy of the protected content, allowing it to be traced back to the original owner.
Encryption: This is a technique that uses mathematical algorithms to encode the protected content, making it unreadable without the proper key.
Access control: This is a technique that employs user authentication and authorization to control access to the protected content.
Digital signatures: This is a technique that uses public-key cryptography to provide authenticity and integrity for digital documents.
Licensing: This is a type of DRM that allows the owner of the content to license its use for a fee or other consideration.
Digital rights expression (DRE): This is a mechanism that allows the copyright owner to specify the permitted uses of the content and enforce those permissions through DRM.
Trusted Computing: This is a type of DRM that relies on the implementation of a secure computing environment, including hardware and software protections, to ensure that digital content is used only as intended.
Content Protection and Copy Control (CPCC): This is a mechanism that ensures that digital content can be accessed only by authorized users, and any attempts to copy or distribute the protected material are prevented.
"Various tools or technological protection measures (TPM) like access control technologies can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works."
"DRM technologies govern the use, modification, and distribution of copyrighted works (e.g., software, multimedia content) and of systems that enforce these policies within devices."
"Laws in many countries criminalize the circumvention of DRM, communication about such circumvention, and the creation and distribution of tools used for such circumvention."
"Such laws are part of the United States' Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and the European Union's Information Society Directive – with the French DADVSI an example of a member state of the European Union implementing that directive."
"Many users argue that DRM technologies are necessary to protect intellectual property, just as physical locks prevent personal property from theft."
"For example, they can help the copyright holders for maintaining artistic controls and supporting licenses' modalities such as rentals."
"Industrial users (i.e., industries) have expanded the use of DRM technologies to various hardware products, such as Keurig's coffeemakers, Philips' light bulbs, mobile device power chargers, and John Deere's tractors."
"For instance, tractor companies try to prevent farmers from making repairs via DRM."
"DRM is controversial. There is an absence of evidence about the DRM capability in preventing copyright infringement, some complaints by legitimate customers for caused inconveniences, and a suspicion of stifling innovation and competition."
"Furthermore, works can become permanently inaccessible if the DRM scheme changes or if a required service is discontinued."
"DRM technologies have been criticized for restricting individuals from copying or using the content legally, such as by fair use or by making backup copies."
"DRM is in common use by the entertainment industry (e.g., audio and video publishers)."
"Many online stores such as OverDrive use DRM technologies."
"Apple removed DRM technology from iTunes around 2009."
"Typical DRM also prevents lending materials out through a library."
"DRM also prevents accessing works in the public domain."
"Some complaints by legitimate customers for caused inconveniences."
"A suspicion of stifling innovation and competition."
"There is an absence of evidence about the DRM capability in preventing copyright infringement."