W3C passes EME

This week, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) approved a standard specification for digital rights management (DRM) modules for web-based content. That is, a system that can be built into a browser to provide DRM protection for digital media.

The decision has been met with both support and rejection. Organizations such as the MPAA and Netflix, stand to gain a great deal from browsers equipped with DRM-protecting code as they deal in the distribution of copyrighted digital media. However, opponents argue that DRM does not allow for protected “fair-use” of copyrighted media.

Supporters argue that the specification, known as Encrypted Media Extensions (EME), would force DRM to be less invasive because it would come built-into the browser instead of requiring third-party plugins to be installed before allowing a user to view content.