RSS
Norway To Move Forward In Trying To Force Apple To Open Up iTunes
from the this-ought-to-be-interesting dept
What began as a minor squabble over the terms of service that went with iTunes in Norway quickly blew up into a bigger deal, with Norway blasting Apple for locking songs bought via iTunes only to the iPod via FairPlay DRM. While we can understand the frustration that some might have about this, it is still a user's choice to buy from iTunes, knowing that the music won't work with other digital music players. It's why I don't buy music from iTunes, for example. And these days, we're seeing more open competitors hit the market, such as Amazon's MP3 store. Thus, Apples use of DRM hardly seems like a reason for the government to force the company to open up.
However, that's exactly what's happening with Norway, as the government is moving forward with a case against Apple that might force the company to either open up FairPlay or shut down iTunes in Norway. If the latter is the end result, it's difficult to see how anyone actually benefits. If Apple wants to limit its own market, that's Apple's decision. It doesn't make sense for Norway to get involved.
However, that's exactly what's happening with Norway, as the government is moving forward with a case against Apple that might force the company to either open up FairPlay or shut down iTunes in Norway. If the latter is the end result, it's difficult to see how anyone actually benefits. If Apple wants to limit its own market, that's Apple's decision. It doesn't make sense for Norway to get involved.
I’m looking for policy...
Developers On Patents: Five Employees, Six Lawyers
Jon Potter: Software Patent Trolls Can Be Stopped By U.S. Patent Office And Congress
I have an idea...
From Noodles And Hot Sauce To Funding In 9 Weeks, With Oomf Founder Mikael Cho
Finding Co-Founders in a Recovering Economy
I have a business...
The Talent Wars: Today's Toughest Startup Challenge
To Understand The Data Move It Closer
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
This action in Norway is basically going to enforce FairPlay as the standard DRM, which the music industry would just love. Heck, maybe this whole thing was pushed by the music industry in the first place.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
O RLY? Is that why iTunes is the #1 music retailer worldwide now? DRM has won this battle. Let's hope it doesn't win the war.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
iTunes is number one because, generally speaking, people are iDiots. They buy iPods not for their features, which are always lacking compared to others, but because they're pretty, shiny, and everyone else has one. Conformity is huge.
Of course, in all fairness, I should point out that there are people even more idiotic than iTunes users. Those true idiots who bought DRMed music from Wal-Mart! What the frick where they thinking?!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
No, I don't exist on torrents alone, I do actually buy music, some of it anyway.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
No to DRM, Yes to iTunes
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Get over it.
"They" buy iPods because they're simple and functional. It has nothing to do with heard mentality, but usefulness.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Get over it.
The Zune is simple and functional as well. The marketing campaign is a joke compared to Apple's but all you do is launch and app and start selecting songs to add to your Zune. Thats it.
Hell, most if not ALL MP3 players are like that. From my experience the iPod actually has MORE issues than other MP3 players with getting music on (or OFF) of it.
But Apple does one thing really great. They market a *lifestyle* and sheep flock to it.
Queue the raging Apple fanboys who will take this as me saying Apple sucks. Never mind that originally Apple (Steve Jobs at any rate, but what is Apple without him?) didn't want any DRM on it but it was the only way to get the music labels to play at the time.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Get over it.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Maybe I'm wrong... Maybe. But I like to think there's a way for all parties to win but this DRM bullshit has hamstrung everyone...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
And BTW...the Oreo example is stupid. You can't make unlimited copies of Oreos to share with your friends. You paid for, I don't know 36 Oreos, and thats all you or anyone else can eat..you can't duplicate them and give all you want to all your friends.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
First - You can put whatever ripped music you want on your ipod or iphone. You don't have to buy anything from itunes if you don't want to.
Second- Norway's government should go after the record labels for enforcing DRM on technology companies.
As far as DRM:
Apple keeps the DRM in order to keep the labels off their backs. Jobs wrote an open letter to the labels asking them to please allow Apple to kill off using DRM, but the labels ignored it.
The labels in turn don't like Apple's control over them, so they ran to Amazon in order to help create a competitor. The catch is, Amazon will only sell DRM-free tracks.
Apple kept up by offering some DRM-free tracks (a.k.a. "iTunes Plus" tracks) from labels who allowed it.
Keep in mind this is all a mindgame over making it easier to purchase tracks quickly and without thought. Your best bet for DRM free anything and having a true backup is just to buy a CD (which the labels would love by the way) and then rip it. Or, go to any store and buy them used.
That's if you're into buying them in the first place.
Fairplay is just the system of DRM being used for the iTunes app. Rhapsody et al have their own built in too, whether it be Windows Media or Real Player DRM systems.
Apple has consistently argued that opening Fairplay up to everyone means they will have to keep up with every single person trying to crack it. And the only reason they will have to keep up is to keep themselves from getting sued out of existence by the labels.
A little sidenote in history:
The original iPod and iTunes version at the time were going to have functionality that allowed you to copy music "in reverse" off an ipod into itunes. Of course, you can get this from third parties right now as i type this. But Apple had originally conceived it as a built-in function, and ended up removing it out of legal fears.
Personally, I buy used CDs for $3 or $4 and rip them. That way i don't lose anything if my computer is compromised.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
How Apple got the permissions to begin with...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
- iTunes will import non-DRM music, i.e. MP3
- You do not have to encode imported music to AAC format
- You can export music in AAC to MP3 from within iTunes - no DRM
- DRM is in iTunes because of the recording industry, not Apple
- Norway isn't suing because Apple has DRM, but because it doesn't support other MP3 players
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Almost, but not all music players.
Whereas an mp3 will. Hence, I have no desire to support iTunes.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Why not sue the labels instead?
This tactic is simply to reduce the marketshare of iTMS, so the labels can raise prices (so both the per-song price is increased AND so they can go back to selling songs in groups to 10-15 songs at a time).
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Consumers consulted?
Daily question: No lutefisk for iTunes in Norway?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
this i a culture clash, really
Norway, (and, AFAIK, the rest of Scandinavia too) has very strong traditions and laws for consumer rights protection.
If my memory serves, the way ITMS functions (DRM, iPod only) is actually illegal under norwegian consumer protection laws. Which is a Good Thing, IMHO. But I'm probably biased, seeing as I am norwegian.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Whereas an mp3 will. Hence, I have no desire to support iTunes."
Exactly, although I have no qualms with purchasing music from iTunes, consumers now have quite a few choices for digital online music - hopefully more choices in the near future. Choice is best for the consumer in a free or almost free market. I think Norway has not looked at this situation with open eyes and are only bowing down to business or their own misperceptions.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Add Your Comment