EMI, Apple offer protection-free downloads
Earlier this week, Apple and EMI announced an agreement to offer DRM (Digital Rights Management) free downloads from iTunes. DRM is what prevents you from moving the music files you paid to download to non-iPod devices. These downloads would cover the entire EMI catalog with the exception of The Beatles.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17902329/
As a consumer, DRM is maddening to me. I buy CDs in part because they are largely DRM free. Opening this up will make me more likely to buy music online and I suspect this will start a trend in the industry to move away from DRM.
As an artist, I want to be reasonably compensated for my work (mostly so I can make more music!). Furthermore, if you consider that downloads still only constitute 10% of music sales, it seems a bit paranoid to go to such great lengths to protect this area of sales. I can't see the downside to removing DRM. It's been an obstacle to a lot of consumers. I think this will have a huge upside for the industry and as always, it takes a few mavericks to show them the way.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17916677/
G
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17902329/
As a consumer, DRM is maddening to me. I buy CDs in part because they are largely DRM free. Opening this up will make me more likely to buy music online and I suspect this will start a trend in the industry to move away from DRM.
As an artist, I want to be reasonably compensated for my work (mostly so I can make more music!). Furthermore, if you consider that downloads still only constitute 10% of music sales, it seems a bit paranoid to go to such great lengths to protect this area of sales. I can't see the downside to removing DRM. It's been an obstacle to a lot of consumers. I think this will have a huge upside for the industry and as always, it takes a few mavericks to show them the way.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17916677/
G
posted by Guy at
11:17 AM
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