The “Break it Down” Blog

Marlin Developer Community claims to have ready the first Open Source DRM solution that is ready for rollout.

The co-chairman of the Marlin Developer Community claims the open-source system is far less oppressive than those from rivals such as Apple and Microsoft, allowing users to share content between any Marlin-enabled device in the home rather than on specific machines. “It works in a way that doesn’t hold consumers hostage,” Talal Shamoon told PC Pro. “It allows you to protect and share content in the home, in a way that people own the content, not the devices.”

Marlin currently has backing from Sony, Samsung and others in the industry in the interest of creating an open, robust and standardized approach to DRM across both devices and media; which is currently one of the biggest problems with why DRM pisses off consumers. Poor implementations, incompatible devices unable to playback the media or read it, etc. have all been issues that DRM has brought down on the heads of law-abiding customers… the pirates ont he other hand haven’t had to deal with any of this.

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Nay-sayers to Marlin’s approach point out that an open source DRM solution is much more crackable than a closed-source solution. Marlin points out that not only is that not true (as clearly seen by every copy protection scheme out there broken within days of it’s release) but that security itself is separate from the technology they are developing with their DRM solution. Their solution will allow the re-issuing of private keys if they were ever broken (Remember the big HD-DVD fiasco?)

Thanks PCPro!