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War Is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance Is Strength. DRM Is DCE.

by John Paczkowski
Posted on May 10, 2007 at 2:55 PM PT

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You can’t put frosting on manure, but HBO’s Chief Technology Officer Bob Zitter isn’t above trying. Speaking at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association show in Las Vegas, Zitter said Digital Rights Management is a lousy name for a technology that allows consumers “to use content in ways they haven’t before.” DRM, said Zitter, emphasizes restrictions, when it should really emphasize possibilities. And so Zitter would like to see it renamed. As DCE, or Digital Consumer Enablement. “I don’t want to use the term DRM any longer,” said Zitter, whose CV apparently includes a lengthy stint at the Ministry of Truth.

Digital Consumer Enablement a good name for measures that limit the way we can use digital content? Please. That makes about as much sense as Windows Genuine Advantage …

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  • Dead on.

    DCE indeed. How about FUTC? An acronym for "Screw You, The Consumer".
  • It's too bad that so many news sites have chosen to report this stupidity, thereby increasing its exposure.

    The concept and the horse it rode in on should be ignored.
  • p.s.

    memo to Zitter - all that DRM is 'enabling' is me to say 'no thanks, I'll keep my money.'
  • I suppose my Freudian slip is showing, but I swear, when I first saw the teaser for your article, I read the quote at the bottom as "to LOSE content in ways they haven't before."
  • Right on buddy!
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About John

John Paczkowski has been poking fun at the tech industry and the personalities that drive it since 1997. From 1999 to 2007, he wrote the award-winning tech news Web log Good Morning Silicon Valley for the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley's daily newspaper. Read more »

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Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.

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