IT Giants Propose Integrated DRM for HTML5

A new proposal authored by Google, Microsoft and Netflix was just released that suggests a mechanism for incorporating encryption and copyright protection into the HTML5 standard.   While this could definately increase the ease and convenience by which copyrighted content could be legally distributed on the internet, it also raises several concerns about how the introduction of such mechanisms might effect it.

Including such mechanisms as part of HTML5, which is a core technology used by browsers, would potentially enable you to view or listen to any encrypted content which you had the rights to on any web enabled device, without having to install any proprietary software from the provider.  This would remove many of the restrictions and inconveniences that currently make DRM protected content unpopular with consumers.

One problem with this idea is that it would be completely ineffective with open source browsers.  Users could simply modify their browser to bypass the security mechanisms and gain access to the encrypted media.  This would probably lead to premium, for-purchase content being only available on non-open source browsers.  Robert O'Callahan of Mozilla has previously expressed his concern over the desire for in-browser DRM, and its threat to "open Web principles".

Another issue with this proposal is considering that exploiting browsers is arguably the main way computers become compromised these days, adding more functionality to a browser which is entirely invisible to the user and deals with sensitive information may not be in the best interest of the user.  Also, considering that bill C-11 would make DRM protection trump all forms of fair use, making the implementation of such mechanisms simple and part of core web standards might have a particularly significant impact in Canada.  If a good portion of the content on the web becomes protected by such mechanisms it would seriously limit the amount of linking, sharing and remixing of content which users currently enjoy.

Media and IT corporations should keep looking for business models that take advantage and expand the possibilities provided by modern communications technologies, instead of trying to restrict and limit them.  I feel this proposal only makes it half way to this goal.