If we emphasize the word "strict" that was in the sentence that you quoted, does that help? DRM technology is neither good nor bad in itself, it is a tool; when that tool is used in a way that makes customers feel that they're being arbitrarily denied the ability to do something reasonable, it will make some of those customers look for other alternatives — legal or otherwise.

Take the case outlined above: if I purchase a copy of "Live Free or Die Hard Collector’s Edition," is it unreasonable of me to want to watch it on my Zune if that's the portable video player that I own? Even if I own a PlaysForSure-approved Zen Vision and can enjoy Bruce Willis as I ride the subway home, will my Zen Vision support watching "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" when it comes out?

With DRM used as it is at present, my choice of playback device (computer operating system, personal media player, even DVD player in some cases) eliminates the possibility of legal, authorized playback of certain content.

When the customer's options are legally purchasing "Live Free or Die Hard" along with a new $399 Zen Vision to watch it on or illegally downloading a copy that they can watch on the PSP that they already own, I have to agree with Mr. Weisenthal that DRM can make piracy and illegal downloading attractive.

"The good news: Movie studios recognize that strict DRM on DVDs helps make piracy and illegal downloading an attractive route for consumers so various schemes are now being rolled out to let users copy their DVDs onto multiple devices, including PCs and handheld devices."

makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. How does DRM on DVD's make piracy and illegal downloading attractive to consumers? You are joking right?

Christopher Levy
clevy@buydrm.com
http://thedrmblog.com