And by the time this article appears Sony might already be selling digital music. Not everyone is enthusiastic about jumping in so quickly, given recent events. One trend that gives many people pause is the massive popularity of Napster, a freeware program that lets users easily trade MP3 files. The program has exploded in popularity, to the point where several universities have banned its use because it ate up too much network bandwidth. A newer utility, Wrapster, performs the same function for video and software files.
Most experts agree that perfect security is impossible.
Almost everyone agrees that DRM technology must be transparent to the user, that ease of use is crucial. However, critics see the systems that are now springing up as far too cumbersome and complex. Every DRM scheme every one has been busted within a week of going public. The content will always escape. The bits will somehow find their way to the people who want them.