Of course impulse has DRM, do you even know what DRM is? Its not all bad, but if someone is agianst DRM they shouldn't be using windows, period. If Impulse installed itself without the users intent then it would be spyware. I do like stardock, i just wish they were a community driven org so the stuff would be free as in liberty AND free beer.
If something installs itself it is a VIRUS (by definition), not spyware.
The definition of spyware is a program that spys on you, collects data about you, and transmits it somewhere.
A virus (self installing without user's consent) can be spyware, adware, vandal-ware (breaks stuff randomly), botnet, keylogger (tries to steal your credit card) or what have you not.
A lot of spyware does not install itself. It tricks a user into installing it as a bundle with free / pay software they wanted. (you COULD have paid more attention during the install process and opted out of it, or if not optional, chosen a spyware free program that doesn't require you to agree to it in the EULA).
Some spyware are viruses though.
Also, I know what DRM is. It was a fancy name for copy prevention mechanisms (it replaced "copy protection" and has recently been repalced with DMP = Digital manners policy) used to force customers into buying the same item more then once (some claim it also stops piracy, it's a lie, nothing in it's design was ever indicative of an ability to stop piracy, and several prominent CEOs addmited they wanted customers to repurchase items).
This reminds me the various names creationism was sold under, like ID and now "scientific inquiry" or something.
With impulse you are never tricked into repurchasing an item , and it has no programs / crashing mechanisms that check for media or other such things meant to keep you from copying your programs. I install my impulse games on several computers which I own.
It does have a central distribution system, which, while not as effective as an MMO's design, is structured in a way that makes piracy less practical. While there is an authentication, it is server side + custom installer. Rather then let anyone download patches and free extra content, or letting only registered users download it as a redistributeable exe. Registered users use impulse to download and install it.
In a way, it is technically a type of DRM (as in, the claimed definition, not the real definition) , just a non intrusive one, and is never intended to force you into a repurchase.
If someone goes to murder homeless for kicks and calls it "volunteering at the homeless shelter" it does not make it so. And it might create a negative enough stigma so that real home shelter volunteers might end up with a different name.
This is basically what happens with DRM.
