I've introduced an idea for protecting digital media from unlimited illegal copying which I call Digital Media Equipment Self-Encryption or DMESE for short, where the essential part of the idea is that the copying equipment encrypts its own copy where it can read it but it is harder to pass to others, but part of the idea is use of a flash drive so you can pass the copy.
But thinking about it more I realize that now people can do things like pass their master copy around to all their friends who can make copies that way, and while that might be a bit more involved than things are now it might not be enough to satisfy the entertainment industry.
So the completion of the idea is that the copy will work without hassle for 30 days and at the end of the 30 day period, you have to put the master disk back into the drive after which the copy will work indefinitely. That way if people pass their master disk around copiers will need to keep it for 30 days or ask for it back in that time.
I arbitrarily picked 30 days of course as it could be shorter while I think it wouldn't help to be longer. And key to the idea is the copying drive keeping up with each of its copies, but they're all individually encrypted anyway with a time stamp from the original idea.
So now, yeah, someone might still let, say, their close friend make a copy, knowing they'll either have to keep the bought original disk for 30 days or ask for it again, but it'll be a hassle, and the point of all this is making it not worth it, so that it's easier to just buy your own.
3 comments:
Sounds interesting. Two issues, both concerning 'backup' (which is the only legitimate reason for copying I guess):
1) If the original is damaged how do do the 30 day confirmation?
2) What if I change device? I'd still want the right to have a backup
The 30 day is just a suggestion as it could be two weeks, and the idea would be for you to make a backup immediately to prevent damage.
1. But if the disk were damaged to the point it couldn't be read then I'd think you'd have to do the same things you'd do now if you damaged a disk you bought.
2. As for the second question, other devices is why the full idea includes passing the key, either over the network or by a flash drive, so you could go to other devices.
Ah, so what you're saying is that you keep the original nice and safe (to be brought out once every 30 days) and just play the backup? OK, I can see that, to a limited extent, but it requires a lot of storage on the device - it would have to record every CD/DVD it ever played, and the last date played. What if it reset itself, etc?
If you can pass the key by network, what stops you passing the key around to anyone?
Also, IMHO, it won't work because the hardware manufacturers have no incentives here. Especially in lower-end devices in which they don't want to spend a fortune on additional complexity.
Good thinking, but this sort of scheme was considered and dismissed in the late 90's, and probably long before that.
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