Digital Rights Management: A Librarian’s Guide to Technology and Practise

This book provides an overview of digital rights management (DRM), including: an overview of terminology and issues facing libraries, plus an overview of the technology including standards and off-the-shelf products. It discusses the role and implications of DRM for existing library services, such as integrated library management systems, electronic reserves, commercial database licenses, digital asset management systems and digital library repositories. It also discusses the impact that DRM ‘trusted system’ technologies, already in use in complementary areas, such as course management systems and web-based digital media distribution, may have on libraries. It also discusses strategies for implementing DRM in libraries and archives for safeguarding intellectual property in the web environment.

• A practical guide that places DRM within the context of the services and practices of the library and offers guidance on getting started
• An understandable overview of the technologies and standards involved in digital rights management
• An overview of the DRM landscape beyond libraries, with an emphasis on how this landscape impacts libraries and shapes DRM generally. In particular, the e-learning and digital media distribution arenas are embracing DRM, with significant potential impact