UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST
COLLEGE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING
GROUP 11
GROUP MEMBERS : INDEX NUMBER
CHARLOTTE GYAADU : BCH/GA/13/24/0026
JAMES DOUDU : BCH/GA//05/24/0014
MARVIN OCANCY : BCP/GA/05/24/0002
TOPIC: SOFTWARE LICENSING : DIGITAL RIGHT MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE LICENSING:
When you install an operating system or software program, One of the first stages of the process is to agree to its term and conditions. These term
and conditions are presented in a legal document called an End User License Agreement (EULA) ,the end user being you. The EULA defines what you
as a user can and cannot do with the product you are about to install. END USER LICENSE.
AGREEMENT (EULA): A legal document that grants you permission to use a piece of software.
PRODUCTS ACTIVATION
During installation, some products require you not only to agree to the term and conditions ,but also to enter a license code or key to activate the products.
TYPES OF SOFTWARE AND LICENSING.
Software vendors offer different types of software. Some software vendors offer proprietary software-that is, software you can use but do not own,
and whose source code is kept private.
Proprietary Software: Software to which the vendor retains ownership rights. Users merely have usage rights, Products such as Microsoft Office are
licensed in this way. For example if you purchase a copy of Microsoft Office Home and Student, you are allowed to run one licensed copy of the software on
a single computer for the life of the P C.
Open-Source Software: There is a growing movement towards producing open-source software that is, software that is not only free to use, but also whose
source code is accessible to users to modify and redistribute. You may be wondering, why is it free? What’s in it for the software developers? The answer is
simple: The open -source movement is all about promoting freedoms and removing licensing restrictions.
DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (DRM)
Digital Rights Management (DRM): is a technology used to control access to and usage of digital content, protecting copyright and preventing
unauthorized use. It involves using access control technologies and other methods to limit copying, sharing, and modification of digital works. DRM
is increasingly important in the digital age due to the ease of distributing content online and the rise of piracy.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
WHAT IT DOES
Protection of Copyright: DRM helps content creators protect their intellectual property by restricting how their work can be used and shared.
Access Control: It allows content owners to control who can access their digital content and for what purpose.
Prevention of Unauthorized Use: DRM aims to prevent illegal copying, distribution, and modification of copyrighted material.
HOW IT WORKS:
Encryption: DRM systems often use encryption to make content unreadable without a decryption key, which is usually tied to a legitimate license
or account.
Authentication: Users typically need to authenticate (e.g., log in) with a legitimate license or account to gain access to DRM-protected content.
Watermarking and Metadata: Some DRM systems include metadata or watermarks that identify the original owner and can be used for tracking
and tracing purposes.
Examples of DRM in action:
Streaming Services: Services like Netflix and Spotify often use DRM to prevent users from illegally downloading or sharing content.
Software Licensing: DRM is used to prevent unauthorized copying and distribution of software, such as games and applications.
Electronic Books: Many e-book retailers use DRM to restrict how users can use and share purchased e-books.
Benefits of DRM
Revenue Protection: DRM helps content creators generate revenue by preventing unauthorized copying and distribution.
Protection of Intellectual Property: DRM safeguards the creative and financial investment of content creators.
Control over Usage: DRM allows content owners to specify how their content can be used, such as limiting the number of devices it can be accessed
on.
