14 DAY TRIAL // The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has made its formal complaint to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) over the proposed HTML5 DRM specifications.
The technology has been widely criticized, but it enjoys the support of large corporations, Google and Microsoft notably, and is now in draft form awaiting standardization by the W3C.
The EFF has criticized the technology from the start but, with this formal complaint, it makes its objections officials. This comes as the EFF is now a full member of the W3C.
"This proposal stands apart from all other aspects of HTML standardization: it defines a new 'black box' for the entertainment industry, fenced off from control by the browser and end-user," EFF International Director Danny O'Brien said.
"While this plan might soothe Hollywood content providers who are scared of technological evolution, it could also create serious impediments to interoperability and access for all," he added.
The technology, dubbed Encrypted Media Extensions (EME), won't add a DRM scheme to HTML5. Rather, it provides a standard way for DRM plugins to be served and integrated into HTML content, i.e. everything on the web.
DRM goes against the very essence of standardization, which is to ensure that as many people as possible have access to technology through as many means as possible. DRM, on the other hand, works to restrict access.
The HTML5 DRM scheme, while backed by Google, has critics from inside the company. In fact, HTML5 editor Ian Hickson made his thoughts on DRM quite clear earlier this year. It remains to be seen though whether the criticism will result in actual changes to the technology or the standardization process.
However, W3C standardization is largely symbolic. It won't matter much whether EME becomes a W3C standard or not, since Chrome already supports the technology and, presumably, Internet Explorer will add support as well in the next version.