Learn in the textbookMultimedia Basics, Delivery, and Rights Protection
DefinitionDRM (digital rights management) is an umbrella term for mechanisms that use technology to prevent unauthorized copying of digital content or use beyond agreed limits, protecting the rights of copyright holders.
ExplanationDigital data can be copied any number of times without degrading, so music, video and e-books delivered online often rely on technical protection. Specific means include encrypting the content, limiting which devices can play it, and restricting viewing periods or copy counts, and each method has its own name.
AnalogyLike a rental meeting room with a lock, only the person who booked it can get in, and only during the booked time; otherwise the door stays shut.
Memory hookIt stands for Digital Rights Management: managing (M) the rights (R) to digital works.