Forum: MAC Version Technical Support - Topic: Apple will embrace DRM free music, but YOU/WE have to do something about it! - Page: 1

The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. ... Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.

"Thoughts on Music"

Steve Jobs
February 6, 2007


For all of the people complaining about Apple's DRM instilled in it's iTunes Store content (especially the countries claiming that it is illegal) that is a requirement imposed by the music labels, why don't you all start pointing the finger at the REAL problem, the music labels themselves?

I am posting this specific excerpt from this open letter by Apple CEO Steve Jobs for the benefit of those who do not want to read the entire linked article but may want to be aware of the most important part, but more importantly I am posting this in the hopes that somekind of compromise can be found between users (and governments) who want open format content, and the REAL problem in this DRM scenario, the MUSIC LABELS and content providers, NOT Apple and its iTunes Store.

I'm not too concerned about all of this, but I am aware of the concern amongst many. If they feel that they are being wronged by the music labels and content providers, THEN STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AGAINST THEM!

HERE is Apple's position on the state of DRM protected content: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic/

"The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. 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.

Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player.

In 2006, under 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide by online stores, while over 20 billion songs were sold completely DRM-free and unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves. The music companies sell the vast majority of their music DRM-free, and show no signs of changing this behavior, since the overwhelming majority of their revenues depend on selling CDs which must play in CD players that support no DRM system.

So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.

Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly."

"Thoughts on Music"

Steve Jobs
February 6, 2007

Reposted by:

- VT ConQuest
(Visual Turntablist)

i propose a boycot on those 4 companies ;)

It would have to be a great Hue and cry from the "great nnwashed masses" to effect this kind of change.

Basically the four recording companies have the "quad-opoly" on production and distribution of music; so unless Artists are willing to forgo royalies and release their music directly through web sites, and only get by on live performance income. I don't see this happening. Too many "pirates".

Yes I know it's going to happen anyway.

But licencing/encryping the codec and sharing it with other reputable companies, VDJ,PCDJ, SERATO, MIXVIBES etc, That might be more realistic. There should be a way of stopping reverse engineering of the DRM to allow Video DJ's to play DRM ecoded music.

MS had already stated this almost 2 months ago. http://www.boingboing.net/2006/12/14/bill_gates_dont_buy_.html

As long as people focus on the real problem in this matter, the greedy record labels and their unfair schemes, then I don't care who helps focus on it. =)

Amen, but i was just pointing out that both MS & MAC are saying the same thing. It's no secret that the recording industry is greedy, maybe this time they will finally listen to rest of us. *fingers crossed*

Apple. ;)

pardon my french Applet :) same difference

Common mistake.

People often forget that Apple is the company that makes Mac products.

I'm glad you will forgive my oversight. lol shows you how much i know or care abouts mac's

Lol.

Thank gawd for Atomix that Numark had the sense to care about Macs seeing as how ALL of it's major competitors had that same sense and have had Mac versions for years.

Numark, and now Atomix by proxy, now know that what I've been saying since April of last year is true:

"No Mac version of VDJ/VV means no high profile/celebrity U.S. turntablists and professional dj's since they're all on Macs and SSL."

Numark would get laughed out of those markets with a windows only Virtual Vinyl product.

Numark is too smart AND too big for that.

The importance of the Mac version is in large part what's holding up the Virtual Vinyl release.

If the Mac version weren't important, Numark would have released the windows version by itself already... and none of the professional U.S. market would care.

They would just wait for SSL to implement video mixing into their Mac version instead.

Video mixing is ONLY a bonus if the software can be run on the platform of choice for the markets that Numark, and now Atomix, are trying to go after: Professionals on Macs.

Ooops! I was actually concerned that microsoft was taking a moral stand for once!

Looks like what microsoft says and what it actually means and does are VERY different. But what do you expect from a multi-time, internationally convicted dis-organization like microsoft?

"Apple’s Jobs jolts music industry; Zune exec calls Jobs’ call for DRM-free music ‘irresponsible’"
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12552/

Whew! I thought hell was about to freeze over or something. But at least the 3 most Mac community despised windows pundits (John Dvorak, Paul Thurrott, Rob Enderle) are still bashing Steve Jobs and everything Apple related, right?!

"Dvorak: Apple CEO Steve Jobs is dead right about DRM"
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12552/

DAMNIT!!!

Okay, at least Paul Thurrott is... wait a minute...

"Thurrott: Microsoft going to get eaten alive over Windows Vista’s resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X"
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/thurrott_microsoft_going_to_get_eaten_alive_over_windows_vistas_resemblance/

WTF?!!!

It looks like Rob Enderle is the only one left and is the key to unleashing Apple vs. microsoft Armageddon!

Anti-Mac FUD, the impact of Windows Vista on Apple, and Rob Enderle
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/anti_mac_fud_the_impact_of_windows_vista_on_apple_and_rob_enderle/

Okay. It looks like we still have a little more time before flying monkeys from hell come from the depths of the earth and start chewing peoples heads off! =D

Thoughts on Music: French Consumer Organization Agrees with Steve Jobs!

http://forum.hardmac.com/index.php?s=fdef780f84f2f76adb09c302d2f5c485&showtopic=800&pid=2817&st=0&#entry2817

Ewww dude you almost made me spit out my coffee :)

How are you going to make "valid" anti MS points using an Apple news source. That's like asking Coke how they feel about Pepsi.

DRM will probably fall but because of the trend in the "industry" as a whole. When DRM came out it was noted as being not perfect but rather a speed bump to try and stop the current bleeding of the copyright issues. I guess we will have to wait and see in due time.

The bottomline is that business is business and that if one person develops a great idea then the rest will put a small twist on the original and incorporate their own IE Gatorade vs Poweraide vs All sport, etc. Each one hoping to out do the other and get a % of the market.

im taking bill gates advise and ripping cds ;)

here's an article on Vista and its handling of DRM but also in DRM in general too

http://www.forbes.com/security/2007/02/10/microsoft-vista-drm-tech-security-cz_bs_0212vista.html

yes , i agree it is not fair to quote an apple source on an apple matter.

Do you people even read before you post a comment?!

The source is a microsft zune marketing director that is being quoted in a New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/technology/07music.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

"Jason Reindorp, marketing director for Zune at Microsoft, said Mr. Jobs’s call for unrestricted music sales was 'irresponsible, or at the very least naïve,' adding, 'It’s like he’s on top of the mountain making pronouncements, while we’re here on the ground working with the industry to make it happen. He’s certainly a master of the obvious,' Mr. Reindorp said, adding that 'the stars were already aligning' to loosen the restrictions."

The fact that I linked to a MacDailyNews article http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/12552/ which made it's own (obviously) Mac biased comments on BOTH the New York Times' article and especially the microsoft director's comment, doesn't change the fact that it was a microsoft director who said what he said.

Excercise moderation, especially when you are a "mod" for a Mac forum even though you have publicly stated that you don't care about Macs:

you did post links from apple aslo i think if you are going to post links they should be from nutral parties such as the bbc or technews

or they are bound to come with an element of bias , that is all.

Regards

Kayle

I'll post links to articles like those ONLY if they have links to the original article from the original sources.

If they don't, then I'll link to the original article directly.

Es Todo. =)