DRM is effective(ish) because of both technical and legal mechanisms. Without the legal mechanisms they'd ramp up the technical ones, which might end up even worse for legitimate users.
replyDRM is completely ineffective. It simply increases the cost of "piracy," as well as legitimate actions like home backup, to about $200 USD.
replyThe worse they make it for legitimate users the more likely they are to just buy the necessary device and move on. The technical battle is not some limitless option that IP owners get to use, it eventually impinges on their core interests.
DRM is somewhat effective. I'm lazy enough about entertainment that I don't even bother with piracy. If content providers don't want to make it cheap and easy for me to watch then fuck 'em, I'll watch something else. I have a zillion other options.
replySomeone mentioned this previously in thread about how piracy (at least for sporting events) are a price issue. If they didn't charge an arm and a leg to watch (thinking of the NBA/NFL tv packages) they wouldn't have a problem.
replyThe article is about sports leagues. I assume you're not as fungible with your choices there? Or at least, you'd agree, it isn't for the majority of the actual audience in question.
replySee old school satellite piracy for a clear example of where this is headed.