Limiters aren’t enablers in cars or media

Looks like HBO’s chief technology officer wants to call DRM by another name. Digital Consumer Enablement. How counter-intuitive is it to call a system meant to impede things “enablement”? Some sports cars can’t go onto the market without a limiter. Notice how it’s still called a limiter and not an enabler.

Digital Consumer Enablement, would more accurately describe technology that allows consumers “to use content in ways they haven’t before,” such as enjoying TV shows and movies on portable video players like iPods. …

That’s a terrible example. Format shifting (or space-shifting) onto new devices is a common use and it’s been tested in the case against Diamond. Your DCE would only impede things. Sure, I can copy a movie to my iPod now, but what about the latest gadget? What if I want to use that new show recommendation service that suggests new shows based on a clip? (I wish that service existed, but it’s something I just made up as an example.)

If you don’t want to break into new areas without TPMs preventing things you don’t want or didn’t consider, that’s fine. Don’t act like TPMs are required in order for innovation to happen. Watermarks are the way.