While DRM is designed to put an anti-piracy lock on content by blocking copying and other forms of exploitation, the technology has raised eyebrows with some end users who say they feel limited by the constraints placed on their legally purchased files.
“DRM is not where it should be,” Gates told a group of bloggers at Microsoft’s offices. “We don’t have the right thing here in terms of simplicity and interoperability.”
Suw Charman of Open Rights Group called DRM “bully-boy tactics by the media industry,” and questioned Gates’ position on the issue.
“The problem with DRM is that it is very anti-consumer,” she said. “[It’s a] bit rich of Bill Gates to make his comments given how much DRM is stuffed into Windows Vista.”
Gates told the crowd that incentives for artists, who prefer DRM because it assures them their work is legally protected, are the only real answer to the piracy problem.
According to blogger Michael Arrington, who was at the meeting, Gates told the crowd that music lovers should simply buy CDs legally and rip the music to circumvent restrictive and ineffective DRM protections.
Charman said she disagreed with the technology chief, arguing that DRM could be a viable solution if companies that rely on it do a better job of educating the public and treating consumers fairly.
“Often consumers do not know what restrictions have been imposed on CDs or digital music until after they have bought them,” Charman said. “Apple has been known to change the rules after people have bought tracks.”