Believe it or not, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates shares the general public's perception on Digital Rights Management technology. Gates took it a step further during a Q&A session with a select group of high-profile bloggers prior to the Mix Conference. When the discussion shifted from Zune to iPod and to DRM, Gates made public a feeling of disappointment over the situation created by DRM.

Moreover, Gates expressed the fact that the dissatisfaction over the current state of DRM is increasingly generalized due mainly to the issues created for possessors of genuine music, in the process of creating a delimitation between legal and illegal files. His exact words were "too much pain for legitimate buyers," when referring to the trouble generated by DRM.

Gates failed however to deliver insight on a DRM alternative. In this context, it is safe to assume that Microsoft will not gear away from the implementation of DRM as an anti-piracy measure. But Gates admitted that "huge problems" exist in relation to DRM.

While Microsoft will not shut down DRM, the Redmond Company could introduce additional models of implementation. By creating a flexible strategy for DRM, Microsoft could take the load off the end users. In this context, Gates referred to the possibility to "buy an artist for life," but did not add more details.

"DRM is not where it should be. In the end of the day incentive systems for artists make a difference," Gates explained. "But we don't have the right thing here in terms of simplicity or interoperability." Bill Gates' advice to customers - on a short term - is to buy the CD and then rip it, an otherwise legal move.