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

May 10, 2007 at 2:55 pm PT

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 …

Tagged with: Bob Zitter, Digital Consumer Enablement, digital rights management, HBO

comments so far. Add yours.

http://allthingsd.com/ Dave Barnes

Dead on.

DCE indeed. How about FUTC? An acronym for “Screw You, The Consumer”.
http://www.wiredinc.com Mike Evangelist

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.
http://www.wiredinc.com Mike Evangelist

p.s.

memo to Zitter – all that DRM is ‘enabling’ is me to say ‘no thanks, I’ll keep my money.’
http://allthingsd.com/ Cat Pulaski

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.”
http://allthingsd.com/ Camilo Montenegro

Right on buddy!