DRM is a virus

No one likes DRM, copy protection, CD keys, manual questionnaires... These things range from mildly annoying to game breaking, where some unfortunate users either lose the manual, cdkey or just can't get the game working because the DRM crashes their computer (very common with Securom protection apparently) or simply refuses to work.

So why do we even have this DRM junk? Does it work?

Yes, it certainly does... for about a week or so before the keygens, cracks, question-answer sheets and so forth come out and break the protection forever.

Wait, wait... you mean to say there are people out there that don't like this DRM stuff?

I'm SHOCKED!

Being a legitimate user, I despise the majority of DRM methods. Often, the first thing I do after I install a game is find the crack so I can put the CD away and not have to find CDs every bloody time I play a game. Technically, this is illegal but I doubt the industry really wants to test the law here, I mean... can you imagine what a judge might say...

"Your honour, this user took his software and cracked it, which breaks the arbitrary clause #43254 in his EULA licence agreement!"
"Yes, but he does legitimately own this copy of the software, yes?"
"Well, yes... but he broke the agree-"
"And he didn't develop this... 'crack' or distribute it. So his crime was to use something someone else allegedly made for pirating software to make it easier for him to use. To get past something that was merely an irritant to him..."
"Erm... he... he broke the agreement?"
"Get out of my court!"

...somehow I doubt it would go like that, but that's how it seems to me. If I don't want to deal with something that annoys me and isn't targeted at me... I should be able to remove it and get on with my life.

There are methods of DRM that are less annoying... but more disturbing. Like the 'Always online' styles of protection used for years for online FPS games... which makes sense and doesn't hurt players of those games. But recently the same protection has been applied to single player only games like Assassin's Creed 2. I don't like this, it's leading us down the path of the corporate corrupted idea of 'trusted computing' and simply not being able to do anything without an online 'handshake' with some company.

Privacy issues anyone?

And now, let me link this back to my thread title... DRM is a virus. Let's look at modern DRM and the average computer virus.

Viruses spread via downloads, CDs, emails and various other methods...

DRM spreads via downloads (via Steam), CDs and other digital formats.

Many viruses restrict the usage of software and prevent legitimate use of the machine which may require a radical shift in the configuration of the computer to beat it...

DRM often restricts the usage of the software it's 'protecting' even by legitimate users and may demand you change the configuration of the machine to suit it.

A virus may, as part of it's payload, communicate over the Internet for various purposes...

DRM now communicates over the Internet as part of it's 'protection' of the software in question, and potentially for other unknown purposes.

HOLY CRAP!!!! DRM is a virus!!!

HEAD FOR THE HILLS!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....