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Comment by dylan604 | Hacker News Reader

>If you don't have access to the file itself, you don't own it.

This isn't the full story either though. You can be in possession of a file that has a DRM encryption applied. If the service revokes you keys, that encrypted file in your possession is worthless. So, do you really own that file?

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The "file" OP refers to is the encryption key. And, I will reiterate, if you don't have "the file" you don't have shit.

Also better make sure your device doesn't receive a software update that wipes out access in the future based on some arbitrary licensing decision.

This is why the only real way to keep copies of media for future viewing is to have them in a completely DRM-free format that can be viewed using any open-source player software. Don't settle for anything less.

Note that Blu-ray works like this. Keys can be revoked.

They can make old players stop playing old blu-ray discs? Has that ever happened? I thought they just did key changes that would stop old players from playing new blu-ray discs.

Or the converse! Think of the way GOG sells DRM-free installers -- GOG sells you a license, sure, just like everyone else, but they give you a DRM-free installer, which is bit-perfect to the version of that installer shared on the Pirate Bay's eternal decentralized tracker.

Can I pirate that installer? When I'm caught, which file is the pirated version, and which is the legitimate one I got from GOG's servers? If I wave around my emailed receipt, is that (moral) license enough?

And oddly enough, Amazon has DRM-free MP3s. (who knows how long they will host them). And the UI is hard to use / doesn't work in-bulk to get the MP3s you downloaded.

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