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Difference between revisions of "Digital rights management (DRM)"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(→‎SafeDisc: moved workaround mention here)
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{{ii}} Protection for games distributed via optical discs aiming to disallow disc duplication
 
{{ii}} Protection for games distributed via optical discs aiming to disallow disc duplication
 
{{ii}} Most games use it for [[#Disc check|checking the disc]]
 
{{ii}} Most games use it for [[#Disc check|checking the disc]]
{{--}} No longer functions properly in Windows 10,<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/games_windows_10/secdrvsys-not-loading-in-windows-10-this-will/65a6fe83-08df-4760-b2ad-6b1ce61d40d4 SECDRV.SYS|title=Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community|date=2017-01-16}}</ref> and previous versions with [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3086255/ms15-097-description-of-the-security-update-for-the-graphics-component KB3086255 update] Workarounds may exist however.<ref>[https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/topic/1340-including-executables-with-no-copy-protection/#entry6736 Including executables with no copy protection - Development - PCGamingWiki Community]</ref><!--TODO: [have a page, specifically for safedisc and?] mention the workarounds -->
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{{--}} No longer functions properly in Windows 10,<ref>{{Refurl|url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/games_windows_10/secdrvsys-not-loading-in-windows-10-this-will/65a6fe83-08df-4760-b2ad-6b1ce61d40d4 SECDRV.SYS|title=Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community|date=2017-01-16}}</ref> and previous versions with [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3086255/ms15-097-description-of-the-security-update-for-the-graphics-component KB3086255 update]
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<!--TODO: [have a page, specifically for safedisc and?] mention the workarounds -->
  
 
===SecuROM===
 
===SecuROM===
 
{{DRM list|SecuROM}}<br />
 
{{DRM list|SecuROM}}<br />
 
One of the most common and longest enduring forms of DRM, SecuROM uses a variety of methods to verify the integrity of a game, as well as preventing disc burning of protected material. It is used on both physical media and digital downloads. SecuROM installs silently on a computer, and monitors certain system behavior, preventing the game from running if it finds anything suspicious. It must be manually removed from the computer with the [https://support.securom.com/removaltool.html Removal Tool] if you decide to stop using the game and no longer want the DRM.
 
One of the most common and longest enduring forms of DRM, SecuROM uses a variety of methods to verify the integrity of a game, as well as preventing disc burning of protected material. It is used on both physical media and digital downloads. SecuROM installs silently on a computer, and monitors certain system behavior, preventing the game from running if it finds anything suspicious. It must be manually removed from the computer with the [https://support.securom.com/removaltool.html Removal Tool] if you decide to stop using the game and no longer want the DRM.
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{{ii}} STILL works flawlessly on newer OS, despite erroneous reports of the contrary<ref>[https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/topic/1340-including-executables-with-no-copy-protection/#entry6736 Including executables with no copy protection - Development - PCGamingWiki Community]</ref>
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<!-- truth be told, I have never checked what this "brand" was implementing back in 2000 -->
  
 
===StarForce===
 
===StarForce===

Revision as of 17:52, 11 February 2018

Key points

With relation to PC gaming, Digital Rights Management (DRM) is technology employed by companies in an attempt to limit the manipulation and copying of game data by end-users.[1]

More information

The Big List of 3rd Party DRM on Steam
Digital rights management (Wikipedia)

Types of DRM

DRM Disc Check icon.svg

Disc check

Games which use a disc check include The Sims 3 and Age of Empires III.
Also known as CD/DVD check, it is an older form of DRM becoming less common as PC gaming moves to digital distribution.
The game will not run without the appropriate CD/DVD being present in the disc drive.
This system will operate regardless of whether or not the entire game content is installed on the hard drive.
DRM CD-Key icon.svg

CD-key

Games which use a CD-key include Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.

Also known as a serial or product key, the game comes with a unique code (often printed on the manual), which the user must input to complete installation.
In this way, the installer is able to verify whether or not a game has been illegally copied.[2]
If activation is completed offline, then a single key has unlimited uses.
If key activation is completed online, then a single key may be limited to a specific number of installations (see activation limit).
DRM Online Activation icon.svg

Online activation

Games which require online activation include Company of Heroes.[3]

Requires an internet connection in order to notify the rights holder each time the game is installed.[4]
This is often paired with identifying information about your computer.
The publisher can therefore track when the game was first installed, and how many times it has been installed since.
It may be used in conjunction with a CD-key and activation limit in order to restrict access to the product.
DRM-installationlimit.png

Activation limit

Games that set an activation limit include Mirror's Edge, Crysis and Spore.[5][6]

Always used in conjunction with online activation, a limit is placed on the number of times a game can be installed simultaneously, or independently.[7]
The most common limits are three or five activations.
After this limit is reached, the user has to contact customer support in order to extend their limit and install their game again.
Uninstalling the game may not free up an activation unless a specific 'de-authorizing tool' is provided (e.g. EA Games Authorization Management).
DRM Account-Based icon.svg

Account-based

Services such as Steam and Origin are examples of account-based DRM.

Once a game is purchased or redeemed, the copy is tied to a specific email address or account, and therefore requires online activation.
These services often allow unlimited product activations.
An account can only be used on one computer at a time, meaning a single copy cannot be active on more than one PC simultaneously.
Games can never be unbound from a user's account, meaning they cannot be traded or sold on.
DRM Always Online icon.svg

Always online

Games that require a constant internet connection include Diablo III.[8]

In order to play the game, the user must remain connected to the internet for the entirety of the session.[9]
Any loss of connection will boot the player out of the game after a pre-determined length of downtime.
Game files may be consistently downloaded from the publisher's server in an attempt to reduce piracy (e.g. Silent Hunter 5).
If the entire game is stored server-side, it is known as cloud gaming.
DRM Cloud icon.svg

Cloud gaming

Onlive is an example of cloud-based gaming.

No game files are stored on the user's computer itself.
Instead the game is run on a rig set-up by the service provider and video and audio are streamed to the player over the internet.[10]
Any loss of connection will boot the player out of the game after a pre-determined length of downtime.
No game files are accessible to the player.
DRM Physical icon.svg

Physical

Many DOS-era games like The Secret of Monkey Island utilized some form of physical DRM system

A form of DRM that requires a random phrase or code to be entered in at some point during the game. The phrase/code can only be found through physical materials (or "feelies") provided with the game.
Sometimes integrated into actual gameplay as a puzzle or very difficult section.
A "defeated" DRM system, most of the physical content can be found online for free.
The phrase/code usually needs to be entered in at every game launch and/or for every new game.

DRM-free

DRM-free icon.svg

GOG.com is a popular website which only sells DRM-free games.[11] GamersGate also offers a substantial DRM-free catalogue.

DRM-free means a game is shipped without any formal restrictions on how it is installed, copied, or activated.
Once a DRM-free game has been bought, it can be installed on any computer, and then re-downloaded whenever the user desires, with no activation limits.[12]
DRM-free releases have become more popular in recent years due to consumer backlash against oppressive DRM policies.

Software and removal

A number of software platforms exist (often bundled with certain games) designed to monitor the number of product activations and restrict the user's fair use rights.[13]
These platforms are often installed without the user's knowledge.
This section details the most common platforms, their purpose, and how to officially uninstall them.

Arxan Anti-Tamper

For a list of games, see games using Arxan Anti-Tamper DRM.

Used in conjunction with account-based DRM for many newer titles, considered an alternative to Denuvo Anti-Tamper.
Easier to mod binary, but still employs protection methods to parts of executable.

Denuvo Anti-Tamper

For a list of games, see games using Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM.

Used in conjunction with account-based DRM for many newer titles.[14]
Limited to five daily activations per game, which resets 24 hours after the first activation.
Does not degrade storage drives lifetime[15], performance in itself[16], nor has ever enforced a persistent online connection[17]
Most games[citation needed] support offline activation through a support page (e.g. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain).
Can increase difficulty of binary modding, due to its obfuscation of certain parts of the executable. Doesn't necessarily disallow the practice[18], nor debugging[19]

Games for Windows - LIVE

For a list of games, see List of Games for Windows - LIVE games.

Offline features can be used with a local profile without entering a key or activating the game (any additional DRM such as SecuROM will still require online activation). A few games do not support local profiles (e.g. Bulletstorm).
Online features are only available in Xbox LIVE Countries and Regions and require a Microsoft account and online activation. Games with Server-Side Activation (SSA) ties the product key to the Microsoft account (no install limit) while the Legacy method has an activation limit (see the List of Games for Windows - LIVE games for game-specific details).
Requires effort to be installed correctly, especially on newest Windows.

SafeDisc

For a list of games, see games using SafeDisc DRM.

Protection for games distributed via optical discs aiming to disallow disc duplication
Most games use it for checking the disc
No longer functions properly in Windows 10,[20] and previous versions with KB3086255 update

SecuROM

For a list of games, see games using SecuROM DRM.
One of the most common and longest enduring forms of DRM, SecuROM uses a variety of methods to verify the integrity of a game, as well as preventing disc burning of protected material. It is used on both physical media and digital downloads. SecuROM installs silently on a computer, and monitors certain system behavior, preventing the game from running if it finds anything suspicious. It must be manually removed from the computer with the Removal Tool if you decide to stop using the game and no longer want the DRM.

STILL works flawlessly on newer OS, despite erroneous reports of the contrary[21]

StarForce

For a list of games, see games using StarForce DRM.
Another older DRM, StarForce has changed several times over the years. StarForce provides many of the functions of other DRM software, but installs itself as a driver on your computer. This along with a number of purported hardware and software issues made StarForce very controversial, and lead to a decline in its use due to user complaints.

See Update/Remove driver for removal details. If the game uses online activation remember to deactivate the license prior to removing the driver.

Some older StarForce versions are not supported on newer versions of Windows; see Technical support for end-users for details.

TAGES

For a list of games, see games using TAGES DRM.
TAGES, like StarForce, installs itself as a driver on your computer. Tages uses multiple methods to prevent copying.

Use the Tages 5.5 Drivers to remove or update the TAGES drivers.

VMProtect

Prevents code from executing on virtual machine and non-standard architecture.[citation needed]
Suspected of negatively affecting protected program's performance due to usage of virtualization methods.[citation needed]

DRM removal

DRM is required by many games, which will not run if the DRM is removed. Removing DRM while these games are installed is not recommended; in some cases, running the game will reinstall the DRM. Circumventing DRM is illegal in some countries (unless you have the developer/publisher's consent). However, there are circumstances where it is possible, legal, and advisable to remove DRM.

If you uninstall all software related to the DRM, the DRM can typically be removed safely. Many DRM companies provide a removal tool, other programs can be uninstalled directly.

Occasionally a developer will remove DRM from a game with a patch after a long period of time. Patching the game in these cases is a legitimate way of running the game without DRM. For example, Civilization IV: Beyond The Sword was eventually patched to remove DRM and CD checks from the game, and the Civilization IV series was re-released as a DRM-Free game soon after.

DRM and second-hand software

Used software is very susceptible to anti-piracy measures. A number of problems can occur when buying used games, due to DRM or copy protection.

  • Lost code wheels, manuals, physical DRM. Older games, such as Pool of Radiance, require a physical tool to progress in the game. Used copies do not always include these materials, and online replacements may be difficult to find, rendering the game useless.
  • Missing, registered, or banned keys. Games that require an installation key may not always have the key with them when used. The game cannot be installed without the key. In other cases, games such as World of Warcraft (prior to the free version) could not be effectively bought used, because they had one-time key usage. Another potential problem is buying a used game, and finding the multiplayer or online features of the game disabled due to actions of the previous owner.
  • Activation. Related to the registered keys problem, some software requires online activation, and used copies may fail activation because of this if they have already been played. Activation effectively makes games unsuitable for resale or transfer.

Controversy

DRM presents an issue for long term games collectors as it can lead to games becoming completely locked out as CD-keys are lost, studios close or withdraw support, or online services discontinued. This can be resolved by studios issuing a patch that removes the DRM, though not all studios do this.

Another historic problem with DRM software is unexpected hardware and software problems. For example, early versions of StarForce sometimes caused strange behavior in optical drives, occasionally making Windows unable to detect and access CD-ROMs.

Online activated DRM, present in games such as Spore means that the game becomes useless when support for the servers is withdrawn. Existing installations may continue to function, but new installations will no longer function.

DRM is rarely disclosed on packaging, and is installed silently on computers, sometimes without user consent. Many people as an effect do not know they have DRM software installed on the computer. Some DRM installs in critical system areas (such as "Ring-0 DRM"), a behavior typically used by malicious software due to the control it allows over a system.

DRM also has potential to malfunction, flagging a legitimate game as pirated. For instance, The Battle For Middle Earth had a copy protection system that looked for signs of pirating that was known to trigger on legitimate installs, causing all the characters to die randomly. The only fix was to uninstall and reinstall the game.

The nature of DRM also makes resale of computer software difficult, in some cases impossible, which conflicts with the First Sale Doctrine many nations follow.

Purposefully deactivating or disabling DRM without permission of the rights holder may be illegal in some countries.

DRM tends to stay on a computer after the related software is removed, sometimes requiring a special tool to remove. Most people are unaware that the DRM remains on their computer. Removing DRM while a game is installed typically breaks the game.

Online-based DRM can be revoked by any reason. Also, online-based DRM has potential for errors and is susceptible to abuse from piracy. For instance, pirated/keygen produced install keys can be registered, meaning the legitimate keys are flagged as invalid. Some games have a history of key banning for trivial reasons. The problem of falsely revoked keys is particularly noticeable on Spore.

DRM may contain security vulnerabilities, as revealed in the Uplay DRM backdoor.[22]


References

  1. Giant Bomb: Digital rights management
  2. Wikipedia: Product key
  3. Amazon list: Games with limited activations and/or online activation
  4. The Escapist: Experienced Points - Online Activation Is A Ripoff
  5. Amazon list: Games with limited activations and/or online activation
  6. EA Games Authorization Management
  7. Wikipedia: Limited install activations
  8. Wikipedia: Always-on DRM
  9. Wikipedia: Persistent online authentication
  10. OnLive: About
  11. TechCrunch: GOG.com opens a new indie developer portal as it looks to broaden its DRM-free games catalogue
  12. GOG.com: Downloads and games
  13. Electronic Frontier Foundation: Fair use and DRM
  14. Denuvo, are we putting the keys to PC gaming in the hands of an unknown third party? - NeoGAF
  15. DSOGaming - Denuvo: SSD Rumor Is False, No System Is Infallible, Striving To Be A Step Ahead Of Pirates - last accessed on 2017-09-01
    "Completely wrong rumor which is repeated over and over although many 3rd party tests (as well as we) state that our solution does not perform read / write operations to the HDD (hence we have no negative impact on the lifetime of SSDs or any other hardware component)."
  16. JesseTheVideoGuy comments on Sonic Mania PC version launches with Denuvo, online requirement - Reddit
  17. Sonic Mania Denuvo DRM cracked - Page 10 - NeoGAF
  18. Already in the third chapter and I can't launch the game on the same computer while my Steam is offline :: Steam Community Discussions
  19. Special K - "Kaldaien's Mod" :: Steam Community Discussions
  20. SECDRV.SYS Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
  21. Including executables with no copy protection - Development - PCGamingWiki Community
  22. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/30/psa-possible-security-risk-in-some-ubisoft-pc-games/