p2pnet.net news:- Edgar Bronfman jr, the Canadian boss of Big 4 Organized Music member Warner Music, says Apple ceo Steve Jobs’ ideas on DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) consumer control are “completely without merit”.

In a Q&A portion of an earnings conference, “We advocate the continued use of DRM,” said Bronfman, quoted in PC World.

“The notion that music does not deserve the same protection as software, film, video games or other intellectual property, simply because there is an unprotected legacy product in the physical world, is completely without logic or merit.”

Jobs, one of the staunchest proponents and most enthusiastic users of DRM, is blaming it on the Organized Music cartel and in an open letter, criticized Warner and the other members, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG, for using DRM on music sold online, “at the same time that they sell billions of CDs containing unprotected tracks,” says the story.

Bronfman was the first executive of a major recording company to publicly take on Jobs’ idea’ says PC World, adding, “He urged Apple and the music industry to continue working together.

“Frankly, manifestos in advance of those discussions is counter-productive.”

He may have been the first of the Big 4 bosses to leap into the latest DRM fray, deliberately created by Jobs as he takes heat for using DRM in Europe. But he’s far from being the only person of interest to do so.

“Apple’s offer to license Fairplay to other technology companies is a welcome breakthrough and would be a real victory for fans, artists and labels,” said Mitch Bainwol, the man who runs the labels’ RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on their behalf. He went on, “There have been many services seeking a license to the Apple DRM. This would enable the interoperability that we have been urging for a very long time.”

Given that Jobs wasn’t, and isn’t, at this point anyway, offering to license his misnamed FairPlay DRM, “either the RIAA got it ass-backwards, which would be normal, or it was displaying a dry sense of humour, which most definitely isn’t normal,” as p2pnet noted.

And Moving Picture Experts Group chairman Leonardo Chiariglione has also joined the debate, advocating, “the most successful communication system ever – GSM,” or Global System for Mobile Communications, originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile, says the Wikipedia.

Bronfman also recently admitted restricting and managing the digital rights of his children.

Reuters had asked Edgar Bronfman if any of his seven children, “stole music“. Responded Bronfman, “I’m fairly certain that they have, and I’m fairly certain that they’ve suffered the consequences,” Bronfman stated, going on:

“I explained to them what I believe is right, that the principle is that stealing music is stealing music. Frankly, right is right and wrong is wrong, particularly when a parent is talking to a child. A bright line around moral responsibility is very important. I can assure you they no longer do that.”

What did he do to them? - asked Reuters. “I think I’ll keep that within the family.”

Slashdot it!

Also See:
PC World - Warner Chief Calls Jobs’ DRM Fight ‘Without Logic’, February 10, 2007
open letter - Steve Jobs on DRM, February 7, 2007
welcome breakthrough - Thoughts on Steve Jobs’ Thoughts, February 8, 2007
joined the debate - Skinning the DRM cat, February 12, 2007
stole music - Robert Santangelo bites back ,January 31, 2007

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