Editing 546: Music DRM

{{comic
| number    = 546
| date      = February 20, 2009
| title     = Music DRM
| image     = music drm.png
| titletext = Just yesterday I bought my first non-DRM'd songs (The Last Vegas, in keeping with my 'I only listen to things from Guitar Hero' theme).
}}

==Explanation==
Here, [[Cueball]] is commenting in a comment thread that he authored about the negative traits of DRM, (usually "Digital Rights Management", but some, such as [[Richard Stallman]], prefer the term "Digital Restrictions Management"). Cueball has a point: DRM, while meant to fight those who download media through [[Sketchiness|'dungeon sketchy']] maneuvers, [[Steal This Comic|risks locking out legitimate owners]]. In turn, this turns off legitimate buyers from buying the songs, thus hurting artists. Of course, this would be true if the major stores sell music with DRM. [[Megan]], wanting Cueball to make peace and enjoy his goal, makes the following choice quote: 'Close the comment thread, get out the debit card, buy us some music, and let's rock the fuck out', while she shows the {{w|sign of the horns|sign of the horns}}. The problem is that Cueball is arguing for the enjoyment of arguing, not out of any actual belief in what he's arguing about.

The title text references [[132: Music Knowledge]] while implying that Randall is not really a music fan, since he would only be interested in music that appears in the games that he plays.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball sits at his computer.]
Cueball [typing]: ...and that's why music DRM is bad for listeners ''and'' artists!
:Megan [off-panel]: What are you doing?

[Megan enters and Cueball turns towards her.]
:Megan: In case you didn't notice, we ''won'' the music DRM war.  The big stores are DRM free.

[Zoom in on Megan who holds up a hand doing the sign of the horns.]
:Megan: So close the comment thread, get out the debit card, buy us some music, and let's rock the fuck out.

[Back to viewing both as in panel 2.]
:Cueball: But I don't actually ''like'' music, I just like being self-righteous on the web.
:Megan: Lucky for you, ''that'' will always be free.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Rhythm Games]]
[[Category:Guitar Hero]]