DRM News

Brad McGraw

Where to start off? I guess I could say I’m a Canadian who is currently living in the United States with my American wife. My work history has been a little bit of everything, eight years in kitchens, three years in software testing and tech support, a few years in retail and a few more in construction.

How does that make me an ‘expert’ in DRM? It doesn’t. Other than I’m a gamer and have seen a rise in DRM on games in the last number of years. I am not, however, a DRM hater. I do not start frothing at the mouth any time a DRM vendor is named. I fully realise that companies have a right to protect their Intellectual Property, and that DRM vendors are providing a service. My main concern is that consumers are not harmed or treated like criminals. I do think there can be a good middle ground we can all be happy with.

After all that, how does that make me an expert again? Well again, it doesn’t. However I have worked with other DRM groups before and while there is a lot of passion about the subject, there is also a lot of leaping before looking. This is something that needs to stop, and why we started this site. While my genre is really gaming, I know that DRM is not just a video game issue, so I am going to try and branch out and cover other areas as well.

One word of warning however… I tend to write mostly in ‘British English’, so if you’re used to ‘American English’ spelling some words may seem to have too many letters or spelled wrong. Be assured I usually use a spell checker, I may slide back into American English from time to time though, which I fully blame on my wife’s influence.

Email me here.

Kathy McGraw

I used to be an insurance lawyer, you know, the kind that tries to get you to settle your case for as little as possible. Ironically, I got injured and could no longer do that kind of work and was on the receiving end of some of the tactics I used with other injured people. It was a very enlightening and humbling experience. Now, I am an internet marketer and I enjoy that a whole lot better. Plus my commute is a lot shorter. Plus I’m not making anyone cry.

So…what does that have to do with DRM? Absolutely nothing.

I first became aware of DRM when I had the unfortunate experience of losing access to roughly $200 worth of digital music I had purchased over a period of about two years. I had a number of computer problems that forced me to re-format my system and I went over the download limits on the songs that I wasn’t even aware were there. Additionally, I am a gamer and I see the same sorts of issues cropping up with games these days.

My experiences with digital music have left a bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to DRM. Having said that, I realize DRM is here to stay, but I think it can be implemented in such a way that it deters piracy but does not treat the end-user as a criminal or ends up forcing the end user to pay twice for the same product. There has also been a fair amount of misinformation put out there about DRM that really helps no one, least of all the end-user.

In conclusion, it is my hope that this site becomes a place where people can come to find information about DRM without all of the hyperbole and half-truths found elsewhere.

Feel free to email me here.

Cliff Riseborough

Where to begin? I have a problem. I am straight out addicted to gaming. Seriously, if there was a twelve step program for game playing, I would qualify for it. Strategy, shooters, action/adventure, sports management, even the odd RPG now and again…I play them all. I’ve got my PC and my 360 and anyone who tries to take them from me will make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. It’s like The Hulk, only with less shirt ripping and I’m much more pale. (You can see what I’m playing on my Raptr page).

Seriously though, as a gamer I’ve always had an interest in DRM issues. In the beginning I was overly, ridiculously militant to a degree that I now find embarrassing. I started out trying to find information, but most of what I was presented with was hearsay, rumor and unproven claims being presented as facts. There simply isn’t much in the way of good information out there, and that’s why I wanted to be a part of this site. Hopefully by putting out good, factual information, some of you can be spared looking back and realizing what a complete boob you were on the topic of DRM.

I’m not an expert by any means, just an avid gamer who is watching with interest where DRM takes us in the entertainment industry as a whole. I’m not a fire breathing Anti-DRM fanatic who considers such things to be the devil’s work, and I find such people a bit tiresome. On the other hand, I’m also not some sort of industry apologist…they tend to get things like hush money, which I am most definitely not receiving. I’m just like 99% of other people out there, a concerned consumer who would like to see a happy middle ground where everyone’s concerns can meet.

Aside from that, there isn’t much to tell. I’m one of those weird ‘Canadian’ people, and yes, I DO enjoy hockey and bacon on everything. Most of my work background has been industrial and warehousing, but I would love to make my living writing. I know, hard to imagine that I don’t already as you read through this awkward mess…I’m not so good at the whole writing about myself thing. That (and a complete lack of rhythm) has officially sunk my hip hop career before it even had a chance to start. One word of warning for all of you, I don’t tend to write small. To say I ramble on a bit at times would be the grossest of understatements.

I also have no idea how to actually conclude this other than just abruptly doing so, so yeah. Hope you enjoy the site!

Email me here.