DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT

February was a month filled with discussions around DRM. News stories, blogs, editorials, LUG discussions – you name it – DRM was a hot topic. It all started when Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted a blog-style editorial on the Apple corporate website defending Apple’s much-publicized use of DRM technology in products like iTunes and the iPod. His editorial was timed, in part, to coincide with reports of mounting criticism in Europe of the difficulties faced by third parties who want to interoperate with the “FairPlay” DRM technology Apple uses to lock up its digital media. Did I say “lock up”? I’m sorry, I meant “protect you from yourself.”