SecuROM: Difference between revisions

| logo = SecuROM logo.svg

| released = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no1998}} -->

| discontinued = {{End date|2015}} (''de facto'')

'''SecuROM''' wasis a [[compact disc|CD]]/[[DVD]] [[copy protection]] and [[digital rights management]] (DRM) [[Product (business)|product]]system developed by [[Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation|Sony DADC]] and introduced in 1998.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Block | first=Debbie Galante | date=June 2001 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/224088957/ | title=Key2 the kingdom: Sony offers copy protection for CD-R | journal=Emedia Magazine | publisher=Online, Incorporated | volume=14 | issue=6 | pages=10–11 | via=ProQuest}}</ref>{{rp|11}} It aims to prevent [[copyright infringement|unauthorised copying]] and [[reverse engineering]] of software, primarily commercial [[computer games]] running on [[Microsoft Windows]]. The method of disc protection in later versions is [[data position measurement]], which may be used in conjunction with online activation DRM. SecuROM gained prominence in the late 2000s but generated controversy because of its requirement for frequent [[Product activation|online authentication]] and strict key activation limits. A 2008 class-action lawsuit was filed against [[Electronic Arts]] for its use of SecuROM in the video game ''[[Spore (2008 video game)|Spore]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170131|publisher=1UP.com|title=EA Hit with Class Action Lawsuit over Spore DRM|accessdate=9 January 2009|last=Pigna|first=Kris|date=24 September 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001171241/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170131|archivedate=1 October 2009}}</ref> Opponents, including the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]], believe that [[Fair use|fair-use]] rights are restricted by DRM applications such as SecuROM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/related/3495/blog|title=Electronic Frontier Foundation's website's DRM section|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603133118/https://www.eff.org/related/3495/blog|archivedate=2011-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/11/apple-downgrades-macbook-video-drm|title=Apple Downgrades Macbook Video with DRM|last=Lohmann|first=Fred|publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation|EFF]]|date=November 21, 2008|accessdate=September 4, 2017|quote=So this is just another example of the way in which the [[MPAA]] companies use DRM not to stop piracy...'''but rather to control those who make devices that play movies'''.}}</ref>

Reports emerged in March 2011 that EA's ''[[Dragon Age II]]'' included SecuROM, despite assertions from EA to the contrary.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Webster|title=Dragon Age II features hated SecuROM, despite previous EA claims|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/03/dragon-age-ii-features-hated-securom-despite-previous-ea-claims.ars|work=ARSTechnica|publisher=[[arstechnica.com]]|date=2011-03-11|accessdate=2011-03-11}}</ref> On March 12, 2011, a BioWare representative stated on the official ''Dragon Age II'' message boards that the game does not use SecuROM, but instead "a release control product which is made by the same team, but is a completely different product"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bigdownload.com/2011/03/12/bioware-dragon-age-2-pc-doesnt-use-securom/|title=BioWare: Dragon Age 2 PC doesn't use SecuROM|publisher=|accessdate=22 October 2014}}</ref> which was later revealed to be Sony Release Control. The consumer advocacy group Reclaim Your Game has challenged this claim, based on their analysis of the files in question.<ref>{{cite web |title=RYG News: Connecting Dragon Age 2's "Release Control" To SecuROM |url=http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/content.php/48-Dragon-Age-2#our-thoughts | title url-status=unfit RYG News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510053147/http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/content.php/48-Dragon-Age-2#our-thoughts Connecting|archive-date=May Dragon10, Age2015 2's|access-date=June "Release11, Control"2024 To|website=Reclaim SecuROMYour Game}}</ref>

EA released ''The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection'' as a free download until July 31, 2014, but did not mention that the download also came with SecuROM included,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2014/07/28/report-ea-snuck-securom-drm-free-sims-2-ultimate-collection#.U9cGUGPsV-Y|title=Report: EA Snuck SecuROM DRM in Free 'The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection'|date=July 28, 2014|publisher=|accessdate=22 October 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311172834/http://www.gamepolitics.com/2014/07/28/report-ea-snuck-securom-drm-free-sims-2-ultimate-collection |archivedate=March 11, 2015}}</ref> which was later revealed by the site ''Reclaim Your Game''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reclaim Your Game&nbsp;— Sims 2 Ultimate Collection and SecuROM |url=http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/content.php/387-Sims-2-Ultimate-Collection-and-SecuROM|title=Reclaim Your Game&nbsp;— Sims 2 Ultimate Collection and SecuROM|publisherurl-status=|accessdate=22 October 2014unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730202830/http://www.reclaimyourgame.com/content.php/387-Sims-2-Ultimate-Collection-and-SecuROM |archive-date=July 30, 2015 |accessdate=22 October 2014 |website=Reclaim Your Game |publisher=}}</ref> SecuROM was removed on November 1, 2017, more than three years after it was last offered on Origin.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://crinrict.com/blog/2017/11/sims-2-ultimate-collection-update-removes-securom.html|title=Sims 2 Ultimate Collection Update removes SecuRom|date=2017-10-31|work=Crinrict's Gaming World|access-date=2018-10-13|language=en-US}}</ref>

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