Physical objects that are handmade or manufactured have the advantage of not being easily reproducible.  Rights management is easy in the physical world; I own an object if I posses it.  The object can only be in one place at a time, because it is unique.<p>Digital goods are inherently more difficult to sell because it is so cheap to copy and distribute them.  "Information wants to be free" has a kernel of truth in it; "free" is the most natural state for information.  It can be copied easy, quickly, and cheaply.<p>DRM technologies feel draconian, but probably only because they restrict legitimate fair-use in addition to protecting information from unauthorized distribution.  Ultimately, I think more DRM is going to be necessary to protect IP.  Fairly soon, all IP is probably going to be distributed online (books, music, movies, etc).  If piracy isn't kept to a minimum, it will eventually cannibalize the IP market.