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
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Episode 278: Ben Waldman on Gander Social and the Challenges of Building a Sovereign Social Network
byMichael Geist

August 10, 2026
Michael Geist
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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.