Hardware restrictions

A hardware restriction (sometimes called hardware DRM) is content protection enforced by electronic components. The hardware restriction scheme may complement a digital rights management system implemented in software. Some examples of hardware restriction information appliances are video game consoles, smart phones,tablet computers, Macintosh computers and personal computers that implement secure boot.

Some Intel processors are sold with some features "locked", that can later be unlocked after payment.

Note that this is not unique to Intel. Some models of IBM's System 370 mainframe computer had additional hardware included, that if the customer paid the additional charge, IBM would send out a service engineer to enable it, typically by cutting a resistor in the machine.

Intel Insider, a technology that provides a "protected path" for digital content, can be considered a form of DRM.

Some devices implement a feature called "verified boot", "trusted boot" or "secure boot", which will only allow signed software to run on the device, usually from the device manufacturer. This is considered a restriction unless users either have the ability to disable it or have the ability to sign the software.

Some Android devices come with the bootloader locked.

Apple's iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Apple TV) require signatures for firmware installation, intended to verify that only the latest official firmware can be installed on those devices. Official firmware allows third-party software to be installed only from the App Store.

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