Could a liberation from DRM be on the horizon?
Well, everyone else has been posting their two cents on this so I figured I'd speak my mind on Apple CEO Steve Jobs' letter yesterday called "Thoughts on Music" in which he lays out the current path we're on musically and where we could be if the 'big four' would ease the reigns on digital rights management. The big four of course being Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI.
Would Apple really opt for DRM-free music in a heartbeat like Steve Jobs claimed in his letter? Hard to say since all we really know as consumers is what the giant hands of Apple, Microsoft and Sony have been feeding us since the iPod revolution began.
Personally, I'm all for music wherever you can find it. Don't make a record and then tell me specifically how I am to listen to its contents, what software can play the songs and what can't, and other such tom-fooleries. I'll admit that I am a huge iPod fan (I own a 30 Gig) and I also purchase music from the iTunes store because I have been able to find just about everything I've wanted to buy, and at better quality than what you usually get when you file-share.
I agree with Jobs that more options to buy and play DRM-free music could produce a mild increase in file-sharing, but I believe those same options will also spur further consumer enthusiasm in purchasing mp3 players and not feeling limited by them. A change is in the air, and I applaud Steve Jobs for having the fortitude to come out and say it.
2 comments:
I find it strange that Jobs is addressing this issue directly in the wake of the iPod/Vista compatability issues. My notion is that this is a "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" technique and that DRM will always be a part of iTunes.
Interesting that Jobs chooses to address this issue in the wake of the iPod/Vista compatability issues. Great way to make the folks at Microsoft look like they are tring to hold iPod/mp3 users back while Apple is trying to make the technology as versatile as possible. Well played sir!!!
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