Do you own iTunes downloads?
p2p news / p2pnet: Given that to all intents and purposes, iTunes is the only viable corporate music service, even if it is no more than an iPod loss leader, do you own the downloads you’ve paid $1 a more for?
Of course not. And that’s the way Apple boss Steve Jobs likes it, which is why he’s bringing so much pressure to bear on France, a mere country which tried, and failed, to stand against the Mighty Apple.
Apple’s FairPlay DRM does the exact opposite: it stops people who’ve bought and paid for iTunes digital music files from fairly playing them on anything but iPods, unless they’re smart enough to be using FairPlay bypass systems such as Hymn.
“The DRM software is Apple’s way of preventing piracy and is a large part of the reason why the recording industry has so warmly embraced the iTunes Music Store,” says Reuters.
Actually, the Big Four Organzied Music labels haven’t exactly warmly embraced iTunes. That’s because Jobs wants to keep the current $1-a-download exactly where it is instead of introducing ‘variable’ pricing, as Warner Music, EMI, Sony BMG and Vivendi Universal have been demanding.
Meanwhile, “A lot of people would argue it’s the closest thing you’re going to get other than buying a CD,” Reuters has Gartner’s Mike McGuire saying of the restrictions Apple and others [read Microsoft, Napster, et al] place on music bought online.
But, “Owning implies control and if you bought the tracks on iTunes you don’t have complete control,” the story has Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group, saying.
“Beyond just having songs you bought from iTunes ‘trapped’ on the iPod and in iTunes, it’s also not a snap to move songs from an iPod – whether you bought them or initially pulled them off a CD – back up to a computer,” the story goes on. “While it’s possible to do so, Apple doesn’t make it easy, right off the bat, because it’s trying to discourage piracy. ‘They do it to lock you in,’ Enderle said, noting an example of if you spent $500 on buying songs from iTunes, ‘You now have a $500 switching cost to pull out of iTunes’.”
Also See:
pressure to bear – France caves in to Apple, May 12, 2006
Reuters – Do you own songs bought online? Well, sort of, May 12, 2006
May 13th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Simple solution. DVD John has a fairfyflay (intentional) decoder that will decrypt your iTunes collection so you can convert them to MP3s. Once they are decrypted, you can use QuickTime itself to convert them.
Problem Solved.
May 13th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
you culd give your name
May 14th, 2006 at 11:08 am
Anyone who buys low quality, expensive, DRM infected music from iTunes is stupid.
So there.
May 14th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Actually, that is an opinion, and narrow-minded. I purchase iTunes music because it is easy and simple. While one could argue that the quality of the song is not that great (and they’re probably right), the quality of the songs sounds fine to me. If I like the song and wish to support the artist for their hard-work (even at a low cut, like 11 cents per song), I’ll do it because it is their business.
If I wish to buy the album, then I’ll buy the hard copy, because I might as well. People who buy songs from iTunes do it because they want a legal way of getting the song and to support the artist. Those who buy music/videos with DRM don’t mind the restrictions, not because they are stupid, but because it works for them. I own an iPod, and am happy with the iTunes Music Store.
May 14th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
“Those who buy music/videos with DRM don’t mind the restrictions, not because they are stupid, but because it works for them. I own an iPod, and am happy with the iTunes Music Store.”
We could also say that slaves liked being slaves not because they were stupid, but because they had a secure job.
But what about the principle of it? And what about the spreading of the principle that what you buy you do not own. Software is like that already. You buy Windows XP for one computer and you register it for that computer. The motherboardd goes bad and XP no longer works because it is now installed on a “new computer”, and Microsoft does not allow that.
What next? What if car companies decided not to sell automobiles but to license them in a way that you can use the automobile as allowed by the car company? Maybe the first car that runs cheaply on batteries will be licensed for use as decided by the manufacturer?
If Apple DRM is good so will the described battery car? Where will it stop?
Rafael Venegas
http://www.gvenegas.com
May 15th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
If you run out and throw your money at ipod and learn later you have other choices you are in the mix. I always take the stand that you can choose other means with a little thought and not get caught in this money sucking lifestyle. If the tune is good you will enjoy it. Take your time and think a little.
May 15th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
I do think. That’s why I didn’t buy an iPod or a Mac. Some of my co-workers did though, and I think they are idiots because of it. The only thing that I bought into was iTunes, and even then, I only bought, what, 6 albums in the last 2 years or so? I don’t even have iTunes installed on the computer anymore.
May 15th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
“We could also say that slaves liked being slaves not because they were stupid, but because they had a secure job.”
I’m sorry, I do not understand the logic here. I am not a slave: I have a choice between buying the CD, buying the song off iTunes (and play on the iPod I already own), or illegally download (yes, I believe it’s illegal) off p2p networks.
“And what about the spreading of the principle that what you buy you do not own. Software is like that already.
You do own it, but it’s like that for only one computer, or the amount of computers licensed for. Because people have abused that in the past (w/o copy protection) by using one CD for more computers than supposed to, tactics have been taken to be insured that less illegal activity would be taken.
“You buy Windows XP for one computer and you register it for that computer. The motherboardd goes bad and XP no longer works because it is now installed on a ‘new computer’, and Microsoft does not allow that.”
Not necessarily, you call Microsoft and tell them you had to install a new piece of hardware, they’ll trust you, and then give you a new key.
“What next? What if car companies decided not to sell automobiles but to license them in a way that you can use the automobile as allowed by the car company? Maybe the first car that runs cheaply on batteries will be licensed for use as decided by the manufacturer?”
Not likely to happen – these are car companies, not software companies. Sure, there are leases and rentals, but not in the way this paranoid statement is made.
“If Apple DRM is good so will the described battery car? Where will it stop?”
Actually, Apple DRM is better – you’re given the option for unlimited CD Burning for music, and 5 computers. Also, if I need to use a computer temporarily, I can deauthorize the computer when I’m done without it taking up the amount of computer credits. I don’t have 5 computers, I enjoy the music I purchase, I help out the artist, I’m happy with the service.
May 18th, 2006 at 11:43 am
Guess: You work for a copyright holding company.
It would be nice to know where you come from so as to judge your sincerity.
“Not necessarily, you call Microsoft and tell them you had to install a new piece of hardware, they’ll trust you, and then give you a new key.”
That sounds ok, except that in many situations it does not work out.
For example, I have found out that most elderly people whose PC I freely support and repair never know where they put computer related manuals, specifications, original program cds, receipts, etc. Frequently the computers they own were handed down by friends and relatives that live very far away. These hand me down computers are typically brand name computers with no original Windows disks received, even thought they were surely sold originally with legal Windows disks. There is no possibility that the described owners can get to call Microsoft to ge a new Windows XP disk or a new registration key. On more than one ocasion these owners had to buy again what had been already paid for.
May 18th, 2006 at 11:51 am
“That’s why I didn’t buy an iPod or a Mac. Some of my co-workers did though, and I think they are idiots because of it.”
I bought an I Pod, and you have called me an idiot. That is defamation, slander and libel. I will be speaking to my lawyer about suing you and P2PNet. Maybe it will be a class action lawsuit, so you have to compensate all IPod owners. This should cost you a couple of billions.
May 18th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
“Guess: You work for a copyright holding company.”
Nice guess, but on the contrary, it is not true. I am a person who on the one hand opposes the music industry, but still wishes to support the artist if the music is REALLY good. I know, someone out there will say I shouldn’t purchase music because I am feeding the evil-incarnate RIAA.
Back to the Windows statement, I did not have the Windows disk which came with my computer (only integrated within the restore copies), but installed a copy of Windows with my own key on it. I had to call Microsoft and tell them I used a copy of Windows from a friend, but I used my own CD Key, and they said that’s fine – he then gave me the activation code and worked perfectly!
I would hand out freely Windows XP copies, so long as the owner provides their own key. They can call Microsoft themselves and get the activation code, because Microsoft has no problem with it, at least according to the representative I spoke to.