The Android operating system has a large number of terms and concepts that many users are unaware of. Some terms can have a great impact on the user, so it is important to understand them. DRM stands for digital rights management and refers to a technology that restricts access to digital content.
Some will recognize it. For most of you, it is something unknown. Here we will inform you about the DRM on Android and everything that comes with it. From its definition, through its purpose, to the consequences it can have for Android users, we will discuss it in detail.
What is DRM?
La digital rights management (DRM or Digital Rights Management) is a set of access control technologies used to control the use of digital files. DRM is commonly found in videos, books, software, images, and other digital files.
If you have ever downloaded an e-book or a piece of music from a provider like Amazon or iTunes and discovered that it came with usage restrictions, such as viewing it only on certain devices or reading it only a limited number of times, then you've run into DRM. These usage restrictions are almost always caused by DRM. That is, if you can't read some ebook because you have reached the allowed reading limit or the book won't open unless you sign in to your Adobe account first, etc. Here's everything you need to know about digital rights management.
DRM is a set of access control technologies that are used to control the use of digital files. It is commonly found in videos, books, software, images, and other digital files. And thanks to DRM they will have a series of usage restrictions, such as seeing them only on certain devices or reading them only a limited number of times, then you have encountered DRM.
DRM systems are used by creators content to protect your intellectual property rights. This means that the use of DRM is a way for content creators to ensure that their work only reaches its intended audience. It also means that if you want to use that work in the way it is intended, you will have to follow the rules of use established by the content creators.
DRM and Copyright or copyright
DRM is the technology that has been used for more than 20 years to protect the copyright of digital content. Copyright infringement occurs when someone uses a copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright owner. There are three general ways to protect your digital content from copyright infringement:
- Use DRM to protect your digital content.
- Restrict access to your content.
- Block or remove infringing content.
DRM and consumers
digital rights management It is accompanied by rules of use that regulate the way in which consumers can use the digital content they have purchased. If you want to play a video on your computer or smartphone, for example, DRM will require you to use the appropriate player app.
The same is true if you want to print a photo or make a printable copy of a video. If you violate the rules of use set by the DRM, you risk not being able to access your content at all. Therefore, DRM is an important tool that content creators use to protect their work from unauthorized use.
DRM technologies
There are various DRM technologies that content creators can use to enforce their usage rules:
- digital watermark: is the process of embedding hidden digital identifiers in the content. These identifiers can be used to track and detect unauthorized use of digital content.
- Encryption: Using encryption to protect digital content means converting it into an unreadable format unless you have the proper decryption key or password.
- Tagged with keywords or Hash: Another way to protect digital content is to use unique identification keywords or strings to track ownership of digital files.
- Licensing and access control: Licensing is an access control method that uses metadata to establish rules for the use of digital content.
Things you can do with DRM
These are some of the things that can be done thanks to DRM:
- Protect copyrighted content.
- Prevent unauthorized reproduction.
- Prevent unauthorized redistribution.
Things you can't do with DRM
And here are many others that DRM blocks or prohibits:
- Prevent illegitimate use.
- Prevent unauthorized reproduction.
- Prevent redistribution.
- Create new content based on the original content.
- Modify existing content.
- Access data or locked systems.
However, all these barriers could be bypassed if the DRM is broken.
DRM on Android
Google introduced the DRM license on Android in 2018. According to the company, security was the reason for this initiative, although many users were skeptical about it. In reality, DRM was seen as a way to protect apps, games, and users from security issues. Users immediately doubted that DRM was used to protect applications, games and the users themselves in the operating system.
Consequently, Google claimed that apps and games would benefit from the addition of DRM. Developers could reach a broader audience, they argued. At the same time, the company stated that apps that were not distributed through official channels could be authenticated. Even if the device did not have an Internet connection, the application could be authenticated.
In this way, an application that has been distributed offline, for example in countries with unreliable or poor Internet connections, could receive official updates in the form of OTAs if this policy change occurs. Just like an app that has been legitimately downloaded from the internet and is working properly.
What are these licenses used for on Android?
In the previous section I discussed that Google used DRM technology in Android when it was first announced. This was somewhat controversial because the rationale for introducing these licenses was debated from the start. Especially since this technology has been controversial for some time on the net. Were there other reasons behind these licenses? DRM technology was not used in Android in this way.
App developers who create content for Android use licenses DRM for additional benefits. We can usually find them in the conditions of use of applications and games on Google Play. These terms apply through the DRM licenses. Before you download an app, you'll usually come across these terms. The DRM license ensures that they run on Android devices.
The content of Android devices is safeguarded by a proprietary platform in which guarantee the rights of protection. Thanks to the use of applications and tools, digital media companies and others are safeguarded. In addition, a framework that interacts with an Android license server will be used, since without them it would be impossible to fully appreciate the available products.
Any app or game available on Google Play for Android can use these DRM app licenses. By specifying the conditions of use of this software, developers can retain a degree of control over their creations, as well as their own interests.
These applications are controlled by DRM licenses for ensure they are not tampered with. Developers are notified if these apps are tampered with in any way. They also have the ability to manage these disturbances. We only see these apps in the app store if they are paid, because the DRM licenses ensure that users pay for them. DRM licenses are what ensure that users pay for apps, as they only appear on paid apps and games that can be downloaded for free.