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Do No Evil, Huh? Google Announces Proprietary DRM

By Alexander Grundner | January 12th, 2006 Interest Level: SMOKING HOT


google video logoIn a move that surprised most Google fanatics at CES, the company announced that it will wrap Google channel media with its own proprietary DRM technology (via CIO Today). Critics are already saying that the move will restrict content distribution instead of enabling it due to limited compatibility between computer operating systems and devices. But believe it or not, some, like Forrester Research Analyst, Josh Bernoff, are advising Google to “Dump the custom DRM and switch to Microsoft.” Yuck. How about using a system that’s more open and is intended to be cross-platform compatible like Open Media Commons? Or, how about using none at all and set a precedent for the media distribution industry? Google has a lot of clout at the moment, it would be nice to see them use their influence to change the state of things.

Editor’s note: The “do no evil” bit refers to Google’s Corporate Philosophy.

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Alexander Grundner is the Editor & Publisher of eHomeUpgrade. He has been following "Digital Home" developments since 2003. He's also a fan of cross-platform, open development software and industry standards related to media, networking, and the web. You can catch his daily tech musings on Twitter: @agrundner.
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  • David Walker
    With Google getting into bed with other companies (like CBS) that value DRM, it's apparent that this is a sign of things to come from Google. Instead of breaking new ground, it appears that Google is bowing to the demands of its partners, sacrificing the desires of the consumer to the greed (and old school thinking) of its corporate friends. I fear that consumers will ultimately be in the same boat as we are now - having to turn to nefarious, and possibly illegal means for getting the content we want in the way that we want.
  • aperry
    Yeah, and what's the deal with Google starting to charge for their stuff? :D




    Seriously though, I agree with you. This DRM stuff has the makings for being a huge headache for consumers. There's already been problems like CD's that would not play for some folks, a DVD screener for Munich sent out to Oscar reviewers that would not play, and both examples are traced back to bad DRM. This is going to be a real pain, I can already tell.
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