Remember the famous Mission: Impossible catch-line: "This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim." That could become the way of the world for home video and music unless the copyright holders are paid their due, Reuters says of accelerating digital rights management technology.
"Software and media companies continue to push new content security initiatives, each plugging their own version of DRM that aims to protect content from unwelcome eyes," the news wire reported June 16. "In the near future, e-mails, spread sheet programs, and Webpage content alike will be secured with digital locks."
One of those companies is Sun Microsystems, who say they will roll out new software to protect copyrighted material stored on mobile phones and smart cards, according to a company announcement. And the new album by Steely Dan, Everything Must Go, was released on CD and DVD Audio, with the latter coming in an encrypted format Reuters describes as "rip-proof".
Still, the media companies aren't even the biggest players in the content security game, yet…just the loudest. "The biggest market for content security is expected to be corporations, government agencies and hospitals who need to keep sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands," Reuters said. "But so far, it's the media companies that have made most noise about DRM. Ravaged by piracy, movie studios and recording labels have been fitting new CD and DVD releases with layers of computer code with the aim of preventing or limiting users' ability to copy, or 'rip,' them onto a blank disc and trade online…
"The media barons insist that if consumers are going to listen to music and view movie clips and news headlines on any gadget with a screen, then the rights holders must be paid," Reuters added.
