APPENDIX: DRM principles
This is a set of six principles to which—it
is suggested—DRM systems should adhere, if they are to be
acceptable to consumers and to the majority of individual creators.
I have suggested that, in order to be widely
acceptable, DRM solutions should meet six basic principles: Transparency,
Privacy, Interoperability, Universal Affordability, Exceptions,
and Accessibility.
Transparency
Consumers must be aware at the time of purchase
that content they purchase is subject to DRM, and the consequences
of that protection.
Privacy
The right to read anonymously being an essential
component of the right to free expression, DRM should not collect
personal data about consumers or their reading habits (although
it may collect aggregated, anonymised data).
Interoperability
DRM systems should be interoperable, in that
protected content should not be tied to any particular proprietary
platforms. It should not be necessary to repurchase content if
a user decides to change the operating system of the computer
he uses.
Universal Affordability
The Berne Convention makes the protection of
copyright universally-available to all citizens without formality.
If DRM is essential to copyright protection, as its apologists
insist, it should similarly be available to all creative citizens
as well as to the creative industries, without artificial barriers
to entry.
Exceptions
Exceptions and limitations to copyright law
are enacted by Parliament for good reason. For example, the exceptions
for the purposes of Parliamentary or judicial proceedings[24]—are
enacted so that copyright cannot be used to impede the democratic
process or the administration of justice. DRM should not prevent
what Parliament has specifically enabled.
Accessibility
DRM should not prevent the operation of technologies
designed to make content accessible to those with disabilities.
27 February 2006
24 S 45 CDPA 1988. Back
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