I don't represent everyone at the magazine or BitTalk Media with the following comment, so take this with a grain of salt.
I personally think that if we have a magazine that is easily stealable, then it deserves to be stolen. We're not going to be giving out a pdf file for example.
On another note, I believe in the power of community. The only people ripping this magazine off would be those with absolutely no money and no thought of supporting the magazine- in which case they have their reasons and I appreciate that.
There is a dangerous line between print and digital though, and I want to make sure that the actions of digital release never complicate the print release. I have no problem with giving the digital away for absolutely free-- it's the fact that we'd have no revenue to print the physical issues that would be the problem.
Whatever we decide, everyone will find out at the same time as we're planning on Android, iPhone and general Web releases as well. I am also very open to suggestions for how to handle it (please, nothing like "Pay with a Tweet") and still keep the magazine alive.
Here is my question: If I purchase the print plus digital edition in what format will the digital edition be? If it is a .pdf file, that is not infected with DRM, which I can read with the operating system and software of my choosing now and in the future then I am interested. On the other hand if I have to license specific propriety software and / or hardware from Microsoft, Apple, Amazon etc in order to be able to read it for a limited time, because of some DRM scheme that will in any case be broken within months if it has not already being broken than I am not.
As far as I am concerned DRM is a deal breaker on any digital product regardless of the currency used to pay for it. Yes it will be pirated with and without DRM, but that will not prevent the Magazine for being successful.