> Also I don't think there ever were physical audio formats with DRM?
MiniDiscs had "copy protection"[0] and this format was supported by major record labels[1]. They were first released in 1992.
> all digital video formats have always had the technical capability for DRM, starting with DVD.
By starting with DVD, you're skipping the DRM-free formats of Betamax, VHS, and LaserDisc then? Unless by "had the technical capability for" you mean "could be later extended to add", in which case there was Macrovision[2] for VHS, but also Extended Copy Protection[3] for CDs, also known as "the Sony rootkit".
> MiniDiscs had "copy protection"[0] and this format was supported by major record labels[1].
From what I can tell, pre-recorded MiniDiscs were never popular. People bought blank ones and recorded their own pirated mp3s on there.
But, yes, that makes me technically wrong with my first comment because it is a physical audio format that has the technical capability for DRM.
> By starting with DVD, you're skipping the DRM-free formats of Betamax, VHS, and LaserDisc then?
They're all analog and so you can't make an exact copy. At least not without obscenely expensive studio-grade equipment. Yes, that didn't stop people from making copies of VHS tapes, and yes, you could tell how many times it was copied by the picture quality.
You couldn't copy a Laser Disc though, so the only way to obtain one was either physcially steal it or you know, pay for it. VHS copies could be made, and were, of the Laser Disc. This is what scared the studios of DVD since the quality was so much better than VHS dubs. Macrovision was a joke to get around. Almost as easy as DeCSS. Macrovision bypass just took some extra video gear (something with a TBC), so it was slightly harder than the free DeCSS library. Betamax didn't last long enough for a copied gray market to come along in my area, so I don't have first hand experience with difficulties of beta dubs.
MiniDiscs had "copy protection"[0] and this format was supported by major record labels[1]. They were first released in 1992.
> all digital video formats have always had the technical capability for DRM, starting with DVD.
By starting with DVD, you're skipping the DRM-free formats of Betamax, VHS, and LaserDisc then? Unless by "had the technical capability for" you mean "could be later extended to add", in which case there was Macrovision[2] for VHS, but also Extended Copy Protection[3] for CDs, also known as "the Sony rootkit".
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc#Copy_protection
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MiniDisc_releases
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_Protection_System
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Copy_Protection