In theory what you say makes sense, but then why is there still DRM? There's been strong evidence that it's useless for a long time already, and companies are still implementing it. What do you think will actually convince people to stop that hasn't happened already? I say it weakens the case because more piracy just inspires the knee-jerk reaction of "we have to do something to protect the children from pirated software!" It's like the TSA. Is it actually effective? I don't think so. But the more attacks we perceive the more the average joe and politicians think we need more TSA.
What you say makes sense as well, I guess we're really talking about two different arguments. One logical/reasoned (look, DRM has basically failed) and the other emotional (OMG piracy! We must have more DRM!). They're kind of orthogonal to my mind.
>> In theory what you say makes sense, but then why is there still DRM?
For a whole complex of reasons, some of which boil down to exactly what you say. Maybe if nobody ever pirated anything it would go away, but I doubt it. It's too useful for other purposes - market segmentation, multiple resales for new formats or devices, preventing reasonable backups etc etc.
>> I guess we're really talking about two different arguments
Right, and while I completely agree with your logical reason, my fear is that the emotional one is more prevalent and thus, the only one that will really determine future behavior.
I haven't considered "market segmentation" as a purpose of DRM - that's certainly interesting. I think the concept of market segmentation is unfair and manipulative, so I think this lends more weight to the commenter who suggested they feel a moral obligation to violate what copyright has become. Personally, I still prefer to pay for what I'm getting, and I just avoid products from companies who make that more difficult then it needs to be. But I see the viewpoint better now.
I should say that for market segmentation it appears to work - those that stick to the rules are limited to media from their region. But this is another driver piracy.
