What people fail to realize is that for every programmer who writes the code for digital content there is a corresponding programmer that will write a crack to enble the digital content to be installed as a fully functioning piece of software. As US consumers continue to use faster and faster broadband speeds you will see, more and more content being downloaded. What ever fail safes are invented there will always be a work around. Unless there is a slipstreamed system with a quick turn around prosecution time, people will continue to download content illegally. One solution would be to have all customers of ISP's sign a agreement stating that the customers are aware that if they download illegal content they would be subject to a fine by the ISP an/or the IP address turned over to the appropriate authorities and or the owners of the digital media.
The question no one dares ask – will the ISPs co-operate? What’s in it for them?
If the various media industries such as movie houses and song companies moved to global simultaneous releases and removed the archane concept of DRM on song tracks such as what Apple has done with its iTunes Store tracks they could go a long way towards removing the need for piracy. It is is now the concept of DRM on song tracks is the biggest waste of time ever invented. Your average teen can rip a CD and remove the DRM in under 3 minutes. DRM or region "protection" on DVDs is also just as annoying and easily bypassed.
Instead of whining over a failing business model give customers what they want. These media companies spent millions building up a global demand for their products and then failing to bring them to markets fast enough causes frustration. They need to radically change their marketing strategies and cut out the many parasites who clip the ticket on the way to the consumer with no perceivable added value.
Pandora's box has been opened, and closing it no matter how everyone tries, will be a terribly hard and lenghty waste of time and money.
