Comments on: Apple & The DRM Free Market Madness http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:47:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Apple & The DRM Free Market Madness « Apple News http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-636518 Apple & The DRM Free Market Madness « Apple News Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:08:38 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-636518 <p>[...] to DRM free music — that is, music not encumbered by copyright restrictions[…] Thanks to maheshee11 for providing this nice story on Digg (more than [...]</p> [...] to DRM free music — that is, music not encumbered by copyright restrictions[…] Thanks to maheshee11 for providing this nice story on Digg (more than [...]

]]> By: DRM Free Music - Is music moving towards commodotization? http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-477720 DRM Free Music - Is music moving towards commodotization? Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:20:30 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-477720 <p>[...] is running an interestign article on finding DRM-Free Music Online. GigaOm has also covered the DRM music recently. As per Techcrunch The first major label to take the plunge [...]</p> [...] is running an interestign article on finding DRM-Free Music Online. GigaOm has also covered the DRM music recently. As per Techcrunch The first major label to take the plunge [...]

]]> By: Musictomyears http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-477058 Musictomyears Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:34:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-477058 <p>DRM free music is a great thing for up and coming companies that require this for playback. It is very frustrating when you buy a song on itunes or any other service and can not play it on a non-ipod device like my Palm Treo cellphone or website service such as www.getmaestro.com. Now with constantly more DRM free music to choose from you will be able to stream songs using a service like GetMaestro allowing you to get a better overall experience with your music than you can with only protected songs just on an iPod.</p> DRM free music is a great thing for up and coming companies that require this for playback. It is very frustrating when you buy a song on itunes or any other service and can not play it on a non-ipod device like my Palm Treo cellphone or website service such as http://www.getmaestro.com. Now with constantly more DRM free music to choose from you will be able to stream songs using a service like GetMaestro allowing you to get a better overall experience with your music than you can with only protected songs just on an iPod.

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-473472 Om Malik Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:18:28 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-473472 <p>Sunny,</p> <p>Good point. bad choice of words on my part. I updated the post to reflect that.</p> <p>Thanks</p> Sunny,

Good point. bad choice of words on my part. I updated the post to reflect that.

Thanks

]]> By: Sunny Kalara http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-473013 Sunny Kalara Thu, 23 Aug 2007 07:36:41 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-473013 <p>OM, HOLD on a second! DRM free is not same as "music not encumbered by copyright restrictions." Music still has the same copyright restrictions as before; it's just that DRM free doesn't have the digital locks to make sure that you follow those restrictions.</p> <p>Think of it this way: some stores have sign that says "restroom for customers only". Some other stores have sign that says "restroom for customers only" AND if you want to use the restroom, you need to go to the cashier and get a key with a HUGE sign attached to it. DRM (Digital rights management) is like the second store. DRM free means you can use the restroom without getting the key, but you still have to be a customer to use it.</p> <p>I am all for denouncing the inconvenient DRM implementations but at the same time, let us all respect the copyright restrictions.</p> <p>please do not confuse and/or equate DRM free with copyright free; it hurts and undermines the movement of pushing for DRM free music.</p> OM, HOLD on a second! DRM free is not same as “music not encumbered by copyright restrictions.” Music still has the same copyright restrictions as before; it’s just that DRM free doesn’t have the digital locks to make sure that you follow those restrictions.

Think of it this way: some stores have sign that says “restroom for customers only”. Some other stores have sign that says “restroom for customers only” AND if you want to use the restroom, you need to go to the cashier and get a key with a HUGE sign attached to it. DRM (Digital rights management) is like the second store. DRM free means you can use the restroom without getting the key, but you still have to be a customer to use it.

I am all for denouncing the inconvenient DRM implementations but at the same time, let us all respect the copyright restrictions.

please do not confuse and/or equate DRM free with copyright free; it hurts and undermines the movement of pushing for DRM free music.

]]> By: GigaOM In France, Music Will Be Free « http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471960 GigaOM In France, Music Will Be Free « Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:31:59 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471960 <p>[...] Orange France is looking to offer unlimited music downloads (from a much bigger catalog) for free! And here I was talking about music-becoming-a-commodity. It’s happening faster than I thought. Share This | Sphere | Topic: Broadband, Media [...]</p> [...] Orange France is looking to offer unlimited music downloads (from a much bigger catalog) for free! And here I was talking about music-becoming-a-commodity. It’s happening faster than I thought. Share This | Sphere | Topic: Broadband, Media [...]

]]> By: Ki http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471649 Ki Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:35:22 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471649 <p>I'm just waiting for them to make it easier to buy international music without the need to have an address in that country or a special gift card.</p> I’m just waiting for them to make it easier to buy international music without the need to have an address in that country or a special gift card.

]]> By: RickyM http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471606 RickyM Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:20:48 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471606 <p>"And what happens when broadband service providers start offering access to music libraries for a monthly flat fee?"</p> <p>Time Warner Cable is also doing that. http://premiumservices.rr.com/files/roadrunner/index.php</p> <p>Our gigantic music library is now your music library. Get unlimited access to over 2 million songs, all legal and virus-free. Pick your playlist and listen on your desktop or download and take them with you on any compatible portable device. All for only 14.95 when you have their service not bad @ all if you ask me.</p> “And what happens when broadband service providers start offering access to music libraries for a monthly flat fee?”

Time Warner Cable is also doing that.
http://premiumservices.rr.com/files/roadrunner/index.php

Our gigantic music library is now your music library. Get unlimited access to over 2 million songs, all legal and virus-free. Pick your playlist and listen on your desktop or download and take them with you on any compatible portable device.
All for only 14.95 when you have their service not bad @ all if you ask me.

]]> By: TimB http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471369 TimB Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:31:27 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-471369 <p>Om,</p> <p>Great post. Gotta love the irony of John McFarlane's comments, though. Whatever one thinks of Apple, they <em>are</em> the mainstream market for digital music sales. They have single-handedly legitimized digital music sales, and now the industry wants to demonize them for it. Hilarious.</p> Om,

Great post. Gotta love the irony of John McFarlane’s comments, though. Whatever one thinks of Apple, they are the mainstream market for digital music sales. They have single-handedly legitimized digital music sales, and now the industry wants to demonize them for it. Hilarious.

]]> By: The Future of Music Online? Say Buh-Bye to DRM ¦ Online Media Cultist http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470926 The Future of Music Online? Say Buh-Bye to DRM ¦ Online Media Cultist Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:15:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470926 <p>[...] GigaOM notes that EMI Music and Universal Music Group are already offering DRM-free music, and that “When it comes to DRM free music — that is, music not encumbered by copyright restrictions — the pitchers are still throwing their warm-up pitches.” And Techdirt rightly points out that people can care less what label music is released through – they just want what they want, and will flock to wherever that need can be best met. [...]</p> [...] GigaOM notes that EMI Music and Universal Music Group are already offering DRM-free music, and that “When it comes to DRM free music — that is, music not encumbered by copyright restrictions — the pitchers are still throwing their warm-up pitches.” And Techdirt rightly points out that people can care less what label music is released through – they just want what they want, and will flock to wherever that need can be best met. [...]

]]> By: jeremy http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470728 jeremy Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:37:25 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470728 <p>Higher quality bit rates would be great! That's the only thing keeping me from using I-tunes right now. I'd pay an extra dollar for a .wav file. Much like how beatport.com works.</p> Higher quality bit rates would be great! That’s the only thing keeping me from using I-tunes right now. I’d pay an extra dollar for a .wav file. Much like how beatport.com works.

]]> By: drx1 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470659 drx1 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:11:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470659 <p>I think Apple's DRM free campaign and what it has sparked - is great. My main issue with iTunes has been the pathetic quality of the tracks offered... in terms of bit-rates. Even though mp4 is better overall, 128kbps is not CD quality.</p> <p>Having high bit rate (256kbps, iirc - from Apple) gets the quality close enough in my book and nothing have ownership right restricted, gives rights back to the purchasers of the music - the way it should be.</p> <p>Hopefully copyright holders (ie- mostly large corporations these days) will get a clue and realize that consumers have rights too... looks like that's starting to happen.</p> I think Apple’s DRM free campaign and what it has sparked - is great. My main issue with iTunes has been the pathetic quality of the tracks offered… in terms of bit-rates. Even though mp4 is better overall, 128kbps is not CD quality.

Having high bit rate (256kbps, iirc - from Apple) gets the quality close enough in my book and nothing have ownership right restricted, gives rights back to the purchasers of the music - the way it should be.

Hopefully copyright holders (ie- mostly large corporations these days) will get a clue and realize that consumers have rights too… looks like that’s starting to happen.

]]> By: 360view http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470508 360view Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:07:01 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-470508 <p>I dont know how many more changes this industry will see.. start from Napster sharing to ITune online sale to iPod subscription to DRM free.. Blie me -- time to give some respite to industry?</p> I dont know how many more changes this industry will see.. start from Napster sharing to ITune online sale to iPod subscription to DRM free.. Blie me — time to give some respite to industry?

]]> By: Kick iTunes, use Walmart | p2p Capital Group | http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-469767 Kick iTunes, use Walmart | p2p Capital Group | Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:46:06 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-469767 <p>[...] Update: Om Malik agrees with me and the ease of use of iTunes and the captive market. Read more via this link. [...]</p> [...] Update: Om Malik agrees with me and the ease of use of iTunes and the captive market. Read more via this link. [...]

]]> By: David Mackey http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-469264 David Mackey Wed, 22 Aug 2007 03:07:24 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-469264 <p>The move to non-DRM music is exciting...but the unification of our cells and music players will be even better (okay, so the iPhone has started it).</p> The move to non-DRM music is exciting…but the unification of our cells and music players will be even better (okay, so the iPhone has started it).

]]> By: paul http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-469078 paul Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:34:59 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/08/21/apple-the-drm-free-market-madness/#comment-469078 <p>Steve Jobs is laughing at all this blasting of iTunes--all the way to his shareholder meetings. 70+% of the buyers of Real, Walmart, eMusic AND Tower records are playing their digital tunes on iPods, where Apple is pulling in probably 60% marging (compared to the 3% margin on tunes).</p> <p>Then, most of these services don't get the other part of it. Yes, I prefer DRM-free music (but I can get around that if I must) and cheaper is better. But I also prefer a pleasant, hassle-free buying experience, and a great selection (iTunes doesn't have everything, but they're doing pretty good, and there are a lot of boutique sites for hard to find stuff, with crappy UIs that is). So until they get that right, they're going to price themselves into the sewer with no margin and unsatisfied buyers. It's not worth my time to go most of these other sites (have you seen WalMart?? Give me a break.)</p> <p>On the other hand, I agree that Apple should up the ante on the quality (at least as an option). I certainly wouldn't mind that. Even if they keep their prices the same, it will cost little except bandwidth.</p> <p>As far as Universal goes, I am almost pissed at them because they are almost tempting me, but not enough, just because I can't believe their tactics.</p> <p>I mean how were Universal's digital sales BEFORE iTunes? How much?</p> <p>That's what I thought.</p> Steve Jobs is laughing at all this blasting of iTunes–all the way to his shareholder meetings. 70+% of the buyers of Real, Walmart, eMusic AND Tower records are playing their digital tunes on iPods, where Apple is pulling in probably 60% marging (compared to the 3% margin on tunes).

Then, most of these services don’t get the other part of it. Yes, I prefer DRM-free music (but I can get around that if I must) and cheaper is better. But I also prefer a pleasant, hassle-free buying experience, and a great selection (iTunes doesn’t have everything, but they’re doing pretty good, and there are a lot of boutique sites for hard to find stuff, with crappy UIs that is). So until they get that right, they’re going to price themselves into the sewer with no margin and unsatisfied buyers. It’s not worth my time to go most of these other sites (have you seen WalMart?? Give me a break.)

On the other hand, I agree that Apple should up the ante on the quality (at least as an option). I certainly wouldn’t mind that. Even if they keep their prices the same, it will cost little except bandwidth.

As far as Universal goes, I am almost pissed at them because they are almost tempting me, but not enough, just because I can’t believe their tactics.

I mean how were Universal’s digital sales BEFORE iTunes? How much?

That’s what I thought.

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