This Wired article explains what is actually going on with the ending of DRM. The thing is that with security you can not secure something a little bit or partially. It's a mental thing. Now DRM has lost the status of being the holey grail, the decline of it's importance will soon be in full. I have mentioned it many times on this blog, in meetings and so on. Even made a bet with Marc that it would be gone before 08 ends. Later more, have a meeting now ;-)
The essence is that one can never have full control over what someone else owns or is. You can try, but it will cause a negative effect. If you buy a product, you want to be the owner, you don't want to be controlled, that's just how it is. If you look at Radiohead it's interesting to see that now their album is for sale it does really well. It makes me think of the curve in technology, but a bit in reverse. You give it away to the first users (instead of making them the highest price) and once the album or release is downloaded to a large, but still first mover audience, you stop free and move on to paid sales effort. All the happy free clients tell they are so happy with the album and the mass starts buying it. So instead of looking at it as a loss in revenue, you look at it as a perfect marketing tool. Thinking hard about this right now. Will it work if everybody does it and it's not a gimmick? Does it ruin the value perception of the customers (If it's free, it's probably worthless), etc. More to think about ;-) Tomorrow Noorderslag starts. Look frwd to it.
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