Trope-a-Day: DRM

DRM: (and its cousins, Genetic Rights Management, Fabrication Rights Management, and Experience Rights Management) grew up in a very different environment in this universe; one in which the companies producing such things wanted the electronic market, knew that customers wanted flexibility and wouldn’t buy if they didn’t get it, and in which the customers were less likely to be thieving weasels given half a chance and a rationalization.  Thus, Imperial DRM packages are helpful, friendly, minimally-intrusive non-malware attached to software, using pricing models which never geolock or play other such tricks, and would like to positively encourage you to keep backups, send copies to friends, transfer between multiple devices, lend media out, and make and publish licensed derivative works.