Email Address Password
Remember Me
Or Create a (Free) Account.
2004JanFebMarAprMayJunJul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2005 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2006 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Oct Oct
2007JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2007
2008JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2008
2009JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2009
2010JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2010
2011JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2011
2012JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2012
2013JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec2013

Wed 7th Feb 22:38 2007: Apple - Thoughts on Music

Steve Jobs has written an article saying that If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.

It's easy for him to say; Apple will sell iPods whether they use DRM or not - indeed, they may even sell more than before (though, as he points out, they can already play non-DRM'd files, and only about 22% of songs on iPods use DRM)

But it's still a pretty bold statement to make to the RIAA. I think that that "22%" figure is the key point of the article; it's not just a statistic thrown in as part of a larger discussion, it feels more like the entire reason for publishing the article, IMHO. It's a big stick to hit the RIAA with: "It turns out that we don't need your licensing deals to sell iPods," whilst at the same time coming across to the consumer as if they're fighting for consumers' rights, not just for Apple's profits.

Still, it's good to have a "big name" on record (so to speak) pointing out that DRM is mostly a awaste of time and effort.

Comments for 'Apple - Thoughts on Music'

Fri 9 Feb 2007 @ 23:53 GMT : Steve Parker
Further comment
El Reg has an article from a former Sony Music lawyer

You could post a comment if you were logged in.

You are logged in as 0

create an account

Steve's urandom blog
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Identi.ca Share on StumbleUpon
My Shell Scripting Book:
    Shell Scripting, Expert Recipes for Linux, Bash and more
 is available online and from all good booksellers:


DefectiveByDesign.org