In a new report issued jointly by the United States Library of Congress and preservation groups in Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands, a problem has been brought to light that companies who use DRM may not have foreseen: their works can't legally be duplicated by the LOC, and may well disappear entirely once the media degrades or the means to use the works are lost.

We've had discussions recently about DRM that causes trouble for legitimate users, but this takes the issue a step further--thanks to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a growing number of games, programs, music, and other digital works may only last as long as the discs they're on.

The Library says that they do have the option to propose exceptions to laws preventing archival (which then need to be approved by the government), but even if they can get permission to circumvent DRM, they are powerless against the DMCA's prohibition on obtaining the tools to do so.

Some people have commented that DRM is okay as long as it isn't "too" onerous. But sadly the DMCA makes no such distinction--the weakest is just as much a problem as the very worst, since the Library of Congress is bound to abide by the law in their efforts to preserve creative works.

Let's not sit idly by and let the games and music we enjoy die within our lifetimes. Support companies who don't use DRM, petition those who do to stop, and work for change in laws governing it (in the US and in other countries with similar laws)!