MSFT: Our DRM licensing is there to eliminate hobbyists and little guys
by Volker Weber
... Just before me was the opening keynote, from Microsoft's Amir Majidimehr, Corporate VP of the Windows Digital Media Division, which oversees licensing and deployment of Microsoft's DRM.
Amir's presentation kept referring to Microsoft DRM as "open," which was curious, because it's actually the opposite of open. ...
The bombshell was Amir's explanation of the reason that his employer charges fees to license its DRM. According to Amir, the fee is not intended to recoup the expenses Microsoft incurred in developing their DRM, or to turn a profit. The intention is to reduce the number of licensors to a manageable level, to lock out "hobbyists" and other entities that Microsoft doesn't want to have to trouble itself with.
Comments
Well, that certainly seems a 'good thing'™, because then the "hobbyists" and other entities that Microsoft doesn't want to have to trouble itself with will simply not use Microsoft's DRM.
Joerg Michael, 2006-02-01
