I've noticed a lot of disagreements about what exactly counts as DRM. Can anybody offer the definitive definition?

Oh crap... *Ducks*

Nope, there is none. Sorry.

Digitial Rights Management

Generally, it would count as something that would impede your ability to copy/re-install the game without some type of internet connection.

So CD keys aren't DRM?

On GOG, no, on Steam yes they are.

Unless they're in Witcher 2 autoupdate, in which case they also are on GOG. This shit is complicated.

To me DRM is the company controlling your access to the game after the sale and download. If you can buy the game, download it and then never need authorization again to install and play then the game is DRM free. If you need the company again at any point to play, the game has DRM.

GOG is DRM free because you can download a game and never need GOG again. Steam is (usually) not DRM free because the games require Steam to run which requires getting online and authenticating when moving to a new computer or after a certain amount of offline time (supposedly).

Nice thread. Some folks consider needing the CD to be DRM but personally I draw the line at having to be online to play and even more than that limited installations. I'd be curious to know if there is a DRM bible that points out to the nth degree exactly what is and isn't DRM.

There is no definitive definition. Only subjective.

I would say that's pretty much the gist of it.

There are some people (apparently including the people who wrote the Wikipedia article) that include traditional disc-based and manual-based copy protection methods, but the term DRM is misleading for those applications, because there isn't any "rights management" per se - all it does is hinder copying (which is coincidentally the same aim as DRM).

The term digital rights management was coined as a marketing term to specifically indicate that content providers could retain control how their content was used post-sale, unlike "local" anti-piracy measures. Part of the marketing blurb of the time specifically stated that it could be used not only to inhibit piracy, but also prevent used sales and allow "trial periods".

This is exactly DRM, for games/software. This is why "CD Keys" (that aren't remotely checked) aren't DRM. This is why the old "disk checks" aren't DRM. This is why "online only" is DRM.

However, DRM gets weirder when it gets to non-interactive media. HDCP can be DRM to some (but not to me) because it's intermediate hardware (you can't control) preventing you from using your media as you choose. However, it's locally-implemented, therefor circumventable*

* Except for those awful, wrong laws that says it's illegal to do so.

Needing the original CD in drive to play is DRM (and we all know that CDs tend to get scratched, lost, broken etc). But I agree, having to be online and limited installations are the worst offenders.

Surely needing a physical disc is a form of rights management? Only the person who owns the disc shall play the game.

Well then I think back to needing the floppy to play Lode Runner and Karateka. Who knew, DRM way back then.