Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

What is one argument against digital rights management?

1. It encourages unauthorized duplication.

2. It enables publishers to infringe on existing consumer rights.

3. It discourages publishers from controlling digital media.

4. It inhibits online transactions in the industry.

The correct answer is: It enables publishers to infringe on existing consumer rights.

The argument against digital rights management (DRM) that revolves around enabling publishers to infringe on existing consumer rights focuses on the balance between protecting intellectual property and the rights of consumers. DRM technologies are implemented to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of digital content. However, this can also restrict legitimate uses that consumers should have, such as the right to share, resell, or lend their purchased digital products. When publishers employ DRM, it can systematically limit the access and usage of products that consumers have legitimately acquired. This encroaches on consumer rights, leading to concerns that DRM creates barriers to fair use, which is a fundamental principle in copyright law. In contrast, other arguments may touch upon the other options, but they do not encapsulate the essential concern about consumer rights as effectively. For instance, statements regarding unauthorized duplication or the discouragement of publishers in controlling media do not directly address the core issue of consumer rights infringement. Similarly, while inhibiting online transactions may be a concern, it does not relate as closely to the broader implications on consumer entitlements typically associated with DRM systems. Thus, the argument about infringement on consumer rights stands out as a significant critique in discussions about DRM policies.