Is DRM Over?
Fri Feb 9, 2007 1:52PM EST
See Comments (32)
Who knew the drop-DRM movement would move so fast. Ever since Steve Jobs's big statement this week on dropping digital rights management from iTunes-purchased songs, music companies and European governments have been reacting in all manner of ways.
Yesterday, most European governments accused Jobs of trying to shift the focus from Apple's DRM conflicts with some continental governments to the record companies. And today, Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman said that the home of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Josh Groban would not drop copy protection.
Despite these protests, DRM's days may still be numbered: EMI, the home of Janet Jackson, the White Stripes, and The Beatles, is seriously considering dropping DRM altogether. Given the recent Beatles hints that Steve Jobs has made of late, could this mean that Apple and iTunes will offer the online debut of the Beatles long-guarded catalog without copyright protection? Seems insane and ironic, but if EMI is up for it....
Okay, so DRM doesn't stop piracy, but I still don't know what completely copy-able MP3s are going to do to stop piracy, either. It's not like I want the record companies to get their way or anything, but don't they help at least some deserving artists get a shot at the big time and maybe even paid? How are artists going to get paid when their MP3s can be copied ad infinitum? What exactly is EMI's financial plan here?
And as I've said before, what's so hard about burning some iTunes-purchased tracks onto a CD, then re-ripping the CD into MP3s that‘ll work on any player, anyway? It still makes a better copy in the end than anything we could have ever put on a cassette tape, for anyone who can remember.
Meanwhile, let's talk about iTunes-purchase video, which you can't even burn to a DVD, much less play on non-iPods.
Here's a quick poll: Would you pay money for non-DRM MP3s from iTunes when you can just copy them from your friend?
Related links:
Top 5 Posts
More About MP3 Players
Comments on Is DRM Over?
Post a Comment
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
-
2 Posted by ytech_robinraskin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse
Actually CD sales are way down despite the fact that people get most of the music from CDs. What does that tell you?
-
3 Posted by funkbox97 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:04PM EDT Report Abuse
That tells me the quality of the music being sold is as crappy as I thought it was.
-
4 Posted by sshumard on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:38PM EDT Report Abuse
People are paying sites like allofmp3.com money for mp3's, so why not think that mp3's could be sold in a more legit manner? At least when you pay, you can be reasonably assured you're getting a quality file without blips or such. Sell the songs for under a dollar and include full tags with them for some added value. Even though artists seem to be making their big money through touring, I'd be happy to pay a bit for their music if it didn't come with the DRM that's caused me some glitches in the past.
-
5 Posted by superscout5000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:48PM EDT Report Abuse
If the data provided was DRM free, I'd be more likely to buy it in the first place. What's the point of buying from iTunes right now when I have to go through all the rubbish of burning a disc just to rip it back as an MP3? I'd love to buy things like movies and such from iTunes, but I can't stomach the idea of being stuck with it only playing on my PC or an iPod. Why can't I port it over to a similar PSP or a Flash Drive? I understand that the idea's to cut piracy, but it doesn't seem to be working. DRM as a concept is worthwhile, but it needs to be chained to the person with the copyright license, not a particular machine that the person owns. For example, a universal DRM system that requires you to get a registered key-code to initiate a specified piece of equipment.
Sponsored Links
My Tech
Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.
Also on Yahoo! Tech
| Computers | Home Office | Wi-Fi & Networking | Phones & PDAs | Cameras & Camcorders | TV & Home Theater | Portable Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Posted by hingarfi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse
"Here's a quick poll: Would you pay money for non-DRM MP3s from iTunes when you can just copy them from your friend?" Quick answer: If DRM free MP3 tracts were downloadable for say 49 cents each, I would not even bother to ask my friends if they have the track. I would just buy it. I'm sure there would be theft but the real question is: How many MORE songs would be sold @ 0.49 in the DRM free world? As S. Jobs says "99% of the music sold is DRM free already" (on CD's). Why not get rid of the plastic disks and save the environment.