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Who Was Calling Who Greedy Now?
from the that-seems-awfully-familiar dept
Just a couple of weeks ago, as Apple and the record labels were fighting, Edgar Bronfman from Warner Music started complaining that they don't get any money from the sale of iPods. We pointed out what a silly argument that was, since the recording industry didn't create the iPod. During part of these very public arguments, Steve Jobs called the recording industry "greedy." Look who's greedy now? In what certainly looks like a similar situation, Steve Jobs is now rumored to be trying to get 10% of the revenue from certain accessory makers as a license fee to work with the iPod. This is quite a leap from the 1 to 2% charged previously. While the iPod accessory market is booming, that may become a lot more difficult with Apple demanding such a large chunk of the revenue. In many ways this seems quite similar to Bronfman's desire to get money out of the iPod. It's one company who wants in on the profits of a successful complementary market to their own offering, not just for the profits, but to better control that market.
Reader Comments
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When are they going to get it?
When in the heck are these media giants going to get it? They keep raising prices and expecting the money to just roll in, when it really makes us turn away. I bet Jobs is just sour that he can't have a monopoly in a free enterprise economy.
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Apple + NBC
Apple will also now charge $1.99 for each download of NBC episode of desperate housewives too. Of course, this is for their new ipod with video playback capability.
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Re: Apple + NBC
First off, it's ABC, and the $1.99 is a good deal. Don't see how it goes with Apple being "greedy"
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Re: Apple + NBC
How is $1.99 a good deal? I can buy all 24-26 episodes of a season for that much or less. Better yet, I use my Netflix/Blockbuter online ($17/month) and get them from there.
About the only thing the $2 provides is not having to wait for the DVD.
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Re: Apple + NBC
Yes, $1.99 is a good deal for those who want to watch network episodes on 2.5"x2.5" screen while stylish sporting white ear plugs.
The rest of us will continue watching those same episodes for free on 15-17" laptop screens, PSP's, and the like. DVR/PVR's and Fair Use, you know.
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Just Tax it. . .
It's seems the RIAJ (RIAA counterpart in Japan) is on the ball, they're already calling for a tax on the ipod. A discussion here and an in an article on IHT: here
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Apparently no one reads this site
Funny to read the two previous comments on this story since Tech Dirt wrote about both of these issues that these readers are supposedly enlightening us about:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20051012/1130220_F.shtml
http://techdirt.com/articles/20051009/233 2216_F.shtml
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greedy
while i see your point i respectfully disagree.
Apple didn't use anything or base any of the technology off of any of the record companies properties that's like getting a percentage of every radio or cd player produced and sold. it's ridiculous. where as the accesory companies need Apple's permission and participation in order to produce their product.
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Re: greedy
Why do the accessory companies *need* Apple's permission and participation? Can't they just make accessories?
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Re: greedy
Apple had a chance to do something really special here. They could have turned the new iMac into a real media centre by adding TV abilities, viewing, recording, scheduling etc... added to the ipods new ability to play video and their very cool new remote control / large screen interface and they would have a giant success on their hands right now... but they want to dominate every download market and shot themselves in the foot with greed, letting a chance to expand their core business slip throught their fingers.
How ironic, how quickly Apple have turned into microsoft once they have been given a monoploy in something!
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Re: greedy
What the hell is it with the MS-monopoly vs. Apple crowd?
Over the years Apple has damn near destroyed themselves through their own rabidly proprietary attitudes, locking out 3rd parties and artificially driving prices through the roof by trying to control every aspect of the Apple/Mac hardware and software development chain...and in the process, creating the very means by which the MS/IBM/Intel juggernaut was able to take over the world by wisely opening up the programming API to any and all software developers, unrestricting the BIOS, and adding driver support for everybody out there.
Thats how MS and Intel came to be the big bad monopolies - by NOT hoarding and controlling and using Big Brother regulation and the legal system, rather by taking advantage of Apple's mistakes, throwing caution to the wind and allowing massive competition to drive costs down. And becoming the industry standards in the process.
Too bad for Apple and too bad for Jobs. Apple's products are nearly always superior - so why are they always flirting with disaster? Innovation aside, they have no brains for business and they always wind up screwing themselves and flirting with disaster, then blaming the other guys for having the gall to be successful.
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No Subject Given
Being a PC user for a superbly long time and now being an Apple and PC user for over a year, Apple is one of those companies you love and hate. As much as people like to see Apple as the good guys, believe me, if Steve Jobs could be in Bill Gates place, he would be and hes working on getting there.
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I think there's a difference.
RIAA wants a cut on the iPod, which is a music player. Do they get any money from CD players or other MP3 players? Not that I'm aware of. Apple licenses the songs for use w/ iTunes, not w/ the iPod. Hence the RIAA is already receiving their just compensation for the songs.
iPod accessory makers license the iPod name and several other iPod-related elements, so Apple can charge what they want to license the iPod brand name.
Yes, I think Apple is stupid to ask for more money from accessory dealers, but it's a different type of license than the RIAA's.
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