DRM: A Publisher-Imposed Impediment to Progress, or a Legitimate Defense of Publisher/Author Intellectual Property Rights

Digital distribution of content provides clear advantages to all stakeholders in scholarly communications, but it also introduces new complexities and challenges. The exercise of control is a significant one. Is media — whether for scholarly or for entertainment purposes— going to be more open, instead of closed? Does stringent digital rights management (DRM) help or hinder the development and use of content? Do devices which enable broader and more immediate access to content affect pricing and control? How do librarians and publishers protect their interests, and ensure that content can be purchased, owned, and used most effectively? Representatives from book, journal, and multimedia publishers talk about how they’ve determined what (if any) DRM is appropriate for their content, and a librarian discusses the impact DRM (or lack thereof) has on scholarship.