Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a draft consultation paper to bring necessary changes in the Telecommunication (Broadcasting & Cable) services interconnection (Addressable System) Regulation, 2017.
Trai notified the interconnection regulation on 3 March 2017 and further its first amendment was notified on 30 October 2019. The first draft of the interconnection regulation was issued on 27 August 2019 and a proposed amendment was initiated to include Digital Rights Management System requirements (DRM).
What is DRM?
"DRM is a systematic approach to copyright protection for digital media. The purpose of DRM is to prevent unauthorized redistribution of digital media and restrict the ways consumers can copy content they've purchased," Trai stated in a statement.
"DRM products were developed in response to the rapid increase in online piracy of commercially marketed material, which proliferated through the widespread use of peer-to-peer file exchange programs. Typically, DRM is implemented by embedding code that prevents copying, specifies a time period in which the content can be accessed or limits the number of devices the media can be installed on," it stated.
The authority also stated in a release that during its consultations, it received numerous feedback that the IPTV-based DPOs are switching to DRM technology. "It is necessary that the consultation committee covers the DRM-based networks and provides for enabling provisions for such operators," Trai stated.
Trai conducted numerous consultation processes and gathered comments and suggestions from various stakeholders on this issue. Realising the concern with DRM, the authority decided to deal with DRM issues in a separate consultation paper. Trai further formed a committee to study DRM system issues. This committee prepared and submitted a report as well as the draft of ‘System Requirement for Digital Right Management (DRM)’ to the authority
Currently, Trai has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed amendment and draft of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting & Cable) services interconnection (Addressable System) Regulation, 2022, which includes the issues related to the DRM system. The stakeholders can submit their comments on the draft regulations by 7 October and counter-comments by 21 October.
