Optics Pro, is a popular photographers worflow tool from DXO Labs that allows you to batch edit images. It’s receiving a lot of anger due to the anti piracy methods, or DRM (digital rights management) they have used in the latest Version 5 of the software.
The idea of these systems is to prevent people from stealing the software by downloading it for free online. Companies vainly think they can prevent this activity by adding intensive licensing systems. The reality is that it simply does not work! Hackers crack the DRM, and then make the cracked software available free. Yep that’s right! We could go out and download free copies of most of the major software we buy, and often the anooying DRM will have been removed thereby making it more enjoyable to use. Yet companies like DXO still don’t get it. They choose to distrust the customers who do want to support them and make the user experience of their product a bad one. The afore mentioned hacking, and stealing of software is of course not legal, and I am a believer that when a developer makes software he should get something for his time, so I do not condone pirating software, but something does need to be done.
It seems that DXO Labs has used a very invasive DRM on this version that can cause all sorts of problems. Pace the company who develops the DRM even tells us in it’s own FAQ of a myriad of problems that can be caused if their system decides you might be a pirate. There’s a good Forum thread over on DPReview where people are talking intensively about this problem, and the problems that Pace Interlock DRM can cause. It seems that along with all the irritation the system, it can actually cause damage to your computer system as well.
On a lighter note DRM however has gotten invasive that the consumer tolerance for it is low, This is a prefect example and DXO is paying for having missed the consumer satisfaction boat in such a big way. For many users of Optics Pro, the solution is to simply not buy it anymore.
Hopefully because of consumer outrage like this DRM will gradually fade away, just as it is staring to do in the entertainment industry. Will DXO be around to see it? That is not yet certain. We have offered to allow them to comment, and if they do we’ll let you know what they intend to do about this problem. If they were smart they would probably apologize to all these paying customers, and stop messing up their product with DRM. That however remains to be seen.
Lastly, our recommendation to those in the DRM bussiness is to start planning for a new job. To companies that use the systems like DXO, Adobe, and many others. We say we’re tired of this and you better get rid of it.
As photographers we often find ourselves with a static creativity. Think of it as a photographic stasis. Whatever it is we shoot, nature, commercial, weddings, portraits, sports etc. We find a way of doing something that feels comfortable and works, so we stick with it. The key is not to get caught in the center of that stasis and stay there. Keep the old tricks, then make even better one’s ALL THE TIME!