RIAA says DRM is dead

If you can still read this, you probably don't have much time left, what with the universe imploding and all -- chief spokesperson for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Jonathan Lamy has essentially declared the death of digital rights management (DRM) in music.

When questioned about his views on DRM for an upcoming SCMagazine article, he said, "DRM is dead, isn't it?" (Hold onto the nearest lamp post, quick!)

Indeed, some of the most prominent online-based music retailers like Amazon and Apple sell without the stuff (the former never has, far as we know; Apple is more recent), but to hear the RIAA say it, especially after all the negative attention they've given themselves, well, it's quite something. Sidenote: Amazon is currently having DRM issues with its Kindle ebook service (link).

Now if only we could see the same approach adopted in the game industry, we'll be all set. Many publishers seem insistent DRM is a "necessary evil" for games, and while we're willing to believe it can be effective to some extent as well as minimally inconvenient if properly implemented (3000AD developer Derek Smart has a great inside look at this process here), on the whole it's just a pain for everyone involved.

Capcom has stated in the past even if 3-4% of people bought a game instead of pirating due to DRM, that's worth it for them ("the numbers are really that high"), but we wouldn't be surprised if 3-4% or more people didn't buy a game due to the protection. In either case, like Smart, let's hope if it is here to stay, it does grow more effective and less inconvenient as time goes on while not affecting (much) the kinds or quality of games we see today.

"Update July 20: Yes, it seemed to good to be true and it is. We just learned the the RIAA never used the word dead in its reply to the reporter. Lamy told TorrentFreak that he only said that there is almost no DRM on (downloaded) music anymore nowadays. In other (our) words: it’s an endangered species, not extinct."