Ars Technica reviews a recent UK consumer survey that contains some revealing opinions on the use of DRM.
Consumer Attitudes Toward DRM
August 6, 2007
Share this post
One Comment

Law Bytes
Episode 271: Taking Stock of a Wild Week in Canadian Digital Policy With the Online Streaming Reversal, AI Strategy Release, and Lawful Access Review
byMichael Geist

May 25, 2026
Michael Geist
May 11, 2026
Michael Geist
May 4, 2026
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Michael Geist on Substack
Recent Posts
Yet Another Trade Battle Brewing: Why a Kids’ Social Media Ban Could Put Canada on a Collision Course With the U.S.
Everything You Wanted to Know About a Kids’ Social Media Ban (But Were Rightly Afraid to Ask): A FAQ on Age Verification and Mandated ID for Everyone
Bill C-22’s Clause-by-Clause Problem: The Government Includes Agencies Seeking Lawful Access Powers But Blocks the Privacy Commissioner’s Return
You Can’t Put the Toothpaste Back in the Tube: Why the Government’s Reported “Temporary” Plan for a Kids’ Social Media Ban Would Mean Mandated ID for Everyone
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 271: Taking Stock of a Wild Week in Canadian Digital Policy With the Online Streaming Reversal, AI Strategy Release, and Lawful Access Review

I’ve always maintained that the DRM proponents have underestimated one important fact: traditionally “rights” have been an issue the consumer has never had to consider. It has been something that is fought and argued over by those in the business world and it doesn’t affect the consumer directly: once you buy a product it’s basically yours to do with what you want.
The only exception of this has been the audio/video “fair use” laws which have gone the consumer’s way and photocopying which everyone has happily ignored. Once you get into more complex rights management, the consumer as a whole is going to rebel, as shown by this survey.