Samenvatting

Piracy and DRM are both forces that impact negatively as well as positively on the video game industry. Attempting to work these two forces together is difficult, if not impossible. Piracy cannot be stopped, and DRM cannot work its way around piracy in any way. This paper attempts to find a way to connect the video game industry to the piracy groups that it opposes. This summary details what path was taken to get into this subject, whilst also outlining the main conclusions and recommendations. Early research into this subject quickly showed potential for a communication approach, as it seemed there was little communication between piracy groups and the video game industry. However, the first part of research mainly covered legal aspects and definitions, as to set up a background upon which any form of communication approach could be built. Additionally, setting up definitions and tracing the background of the issue took the helm in early research, leading to a delay in applying any communication model. After some research and contact approaches, it became obvious that the video game industry was not going to be forthcoming with information or opinions regarding DRM, piracy or their personal stance on the issue. As a result, all information that was required to establish a point of view from the industry's side became more difficult to obtain, and less easy to verify. Second-hand resources such as interviews and articles became the norm for obtaining information about the video game industry. From these interviews, the conclusion was drawn that piracy is inevitable for PC games, and that digital retail is a way forward for the video game industry in regard to piracy. Pirate groups, on the other hand, were much easier to approach, and more willing to share their view. Setting up a poll on their online forums proved an easy way to access the minds of the illegal user. Within weeks, the stance of the pirate groups was recorded, in regards to DRM and piracy. Asking them for solutions provided some interesting suggestions, all of which were recorded for prosperity, although not applicability. From this research the conclusion was drawn that DRM impacts negatively on the image of newly released video games.