Abstract
‘Digital Rights Management systems’, or ‘DRM systems’, is an umbrella term usually referring to a wide set of technologies, whose primary use is to enforce the pre-defined policies (e.g. copyrights) that a given digital content is published under. The basic goal of the technology is to control access to the content, and so prevent copyright infringement such as illegal file sharing. Using technology to control technology and content is not likely to succeed, for three main reasons; Firstly, history shows that most, if not all, attempts at controlling information technology has failed. More advanced technology is even more likely to fail, because of its increased complexity. Secondly, copyright law is constantly changing, and DRM systems are dependent on strong copyright protection to be effective. Any changes in the ‘wrong’ direction will weaken it considerably. Thirdly, the public is unpredictable and uncontrollable, and will always find ways around obstacles that are not wanted. It is, however, not likely that the DRM supporters will acknowledge that their strategy has failed, partly because they have found a small niche where the technology can be applied without controversy, but mostly because it is bad for business to admit defeat.