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- MichaelStanton, on 10/12/2007, -8/+376It's refreshing to see such a big player in music sales explicitly say that DRM isn't working.
...albeit one that doesn't really have control on that. - vrikis, on 10/12/2007, -34/+342Just a bit more info on the story:
He talks about the future of DRM and what can be done; "With this background, let’s now explore three different alternatives for the future."
This is one of the best columns he has written in a while. Steve Jobs rocks! - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -19/+317"if jobs hated drm enough, he wouldn't sell drm'd music."
He also wouldn't sell music, and iTunes and the iPod wouldn't be the cultural icons they are today, and Apple would likely be nowhere near where they are today.
Be happy Jobs is fighting with us and not against us. - dvgraphics, on 10/12/2007, -13/+281"This is one of the best columns he has written in a while. Steve Jobs rocks!"
I can't remember Steve Jobs ever writing a column before this. - Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -11/+207You know at the end of one of those cheezy films where one person at the back of the crowd starts to clap thier hands together, and then slowly but surely everyone else in the gathering joins in? Well let's start one of those now, clap.. clap.. clap.. calp..
This DRM-free music thing makes a lot of sense, let's do this! - dvgraphics, on 10/12/2007, -3/+162It's nice to see Apple openly pressuring the record companies to lay off the DRM requirement.
"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." - colincornaby, on 10/12/2007, -6/+136I love that quote. It flies in the face of everything the iTunes haters have said about Apple using DRM to "lock in" people to the iPod brand.
Don't blame Apple about the DRM. I've always said, it's the music companies pushing it, not the tech companies... - jarinudom, on 03/31/2008, -16/+142Here is my crazy prediction: Apple will be releasing the entire Beatles library as unprotected AAC on the iTunes Store as part of the trademark licensing agreement.
It will never happen, but if it does I called it! - bigbwai2000, on 10/12/2007, -4/+127This says a lot about Apple's faith in the open market and that it listens to customers.
- weareglass, on 10/12/2007, -2/+101You know, at first I thought the labels would never go for DRM-free music, but statements like this and the success of eMusic (#2 online music retailer, ahead of Zune, Wal-Mart, Rhapsody, Napster, etc.) and the efforts of grassroots sellers like Beatport and soon Other Music and Myspace leads me to think that this is inevitable. People want DRM free music. Even Apple wants it.
So the task for us is to pressure the major labels by purchasing music from these DRM-free sources as much as possible, and getting our major label releases on CD if at all. If the people who actually pay for music begin to do this (and we're fast becoming less of a majority) eventually the labels will see the light, or go bankrupt, whichever comes first. I hope, anyway. - geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -4/+92"while doing nothing about it. actions speak louder than words."
Except for in this case, his actions /are/ his words. He's mobilizing an army. When the President of the US stands up in front of people and says "Let's go to Iraq", what's he saying? He's saying, let's tell the legislator to declare war, and let's go to Iraq. When Steve Jobs says "Let's tell the Music Industry we don't want DRM", what's he saying?
You can bet that there have been many heated phone calls, throwing of office equipment episodes, and ripping of garments caused by DRM inside of Apple. When the store was first implemented, the DRM system fluctuated as often as Steve's meetings with Music Execs. Even now the system isn't 100% stable, especially as iTunes prepares to go mobile. Bottom line is, Jobs is fighting for us. It's apparent in everything he's done so far.
Microsoft isn't. Ballmer's own quote of DRM being the future should impress that upon you. Real isn't. Nobody else out there who is influential in any way is standing up in the fight against DRM. You don't see Kevin Rose writing speeches about how he hates DRM and what he's doing against it, even though he too is active in the war (Rev. 3 is Creative Commons licensed material, for example).
In short, be happy Jobs is on our side, instead of the other side. This battle could be much, much different. - ElBob, on 10/12/2007, -3/+87@canewediggit: Did you even read the article? Do you actually think APPLE is the one that really wants all this DRM. If this is the truth, why does nearly every other company have DRM for their music, and why does Sony try to put DRM on their CDs. I don't support DRM, but you are attacking the first CEO to actively come out and say its bad.
- joakim, on 10/12/2007, -1/+82May this be the beginning of the end of DRM!
- sonofalink, on 10/12/2007, -1/+71"if mr. jobs were really against drm, you know what he would do? ban drm on i-tunes."
Wow.
Did you even GLANCE at the article? - ericdano, on 10/12/2007, -4/+68Steve, you rock. You hit the nail on the head, again. You get it.
- dogearedboy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+62Excellent article.
- ericdano, on 10/12/2007, -1/+58You don't get it do you. Apple doesn't OWN the music that they sell. RTFA. The companies who own the music insisted on DRM. Apple cannot just decide to get rid of DRM, the companies that provide the content need to decide that first.
My God man, what Kool-Aid are you drinking? Steve Jobs totally spelled out how the music and video industry work. - totorototoro, on 10/12/2007, -1/+51Interesting..when was the last time Steve Jobs did an open letter like this?
Something must be up. - CaptainBlack, on 10/12/2007, -5/+55It's nice to see that some Gurus don't lose faith and leave their roots. All of the giants in the consumer technology industry started as hackers and pirates. It's just interesting that you see Steve still standing up for what he believes in--the consumer--while Bill is out trying to sue Russian school teachers. Way to go Steve! You are a scholar and a gentleman!
- panique, on 10/12/2007, -2/+49Really. Apple would continue to mop the floor with the rest of the MP3 players and stores if DRM were dropped. Nobody can match the integration nor the user experience. And nobody will.
- vrikis, on 10/12/2007, -2/+47Comments have always been "I hate apple! They make me buy music from only their store" or something of that sort. Jobs is actually really clever with this, and I think that people should now realise it is the music industry, not Apple Inc.
- alaricf, on 10/12/2007, -4/+45Steve is a PR wiz. I think he gets it right when telling European country to target the record lables, not apple. Of course they will not see it that way. I am sure there is a bigger record industry lobby than an Apple lobby in europe.
- darksheer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+44@noobster - read the article...he covers this misconception quite thoroughly.
- chrisntr, on 10/12/2007, -12/+49Third Alternative FTW!
- monkeyrun, on 10/12/2007, -18/+54"C'mon Steve, I love my iPod, but not licensing FairPlay has NOTHING to do with the DRM keys leaking out, it has to do with not wanting to allow other players onto iTunes."
It has something to do with cost of supporting 3rd parties.
Profit margin on Online Music slim enough already, I see no reason why Apple would want to waste extra resources for 3rd party players. - Mediaright, on 10/12/2007, -2/+33I'd be nice to see Jobs take DRM out of iTunes, but Steve lives in the real world like the rest of us, and if he were to just say outright that iTunes would never have DRM from this day forward, iTunes would be dead within a week. Lawsuits would ensue as the record companies pull their liscences. Jobs is a fighter for recognizing that the change is needed, but some people need to realize that this process takes a bit longer than you would think.
I believe I read somewhere that negotiations are coming up again for some of the labels and iTunes in the spring...so we'll see. - danielwsmithee, on 10/12/2007, -9/+39Your an idiot it doesn't limit your choice of digital music to the iTunes store. You can get digital music now from any of the non-drm music stores and it works just fine. What it does is it makes it a hassle to transfer your purchased music from iTunes to a player different then the iPod. Your thinking is backwards.
- DarkSideofMoon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+29Meanwhile:
"DRM is the future." - Steve Ballmer
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Steve_Ballmer - vhold, on 10/12/2007, -5/+33So, if this is what Jobs believes in, then why isn't there an option now for independent artists to sell their music DRM free on iTunes?
- pierrelourens, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28As much as people say they hate iTunes music because of DRM, this column reveals that Apple does not really control the DRM restrictions and would (supposedly) support DRM-free music. If the third method was employed and the music industries did not see a direct increase in illegal downloading (which according to the article, they shouldn't) then Apple would make both customers happy--the customers and the demanding record companies.
This was very well-written and shows that Apple really does care, or at least they care enough to write something convincing and persuasive. - HeatVision, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28@canewediggit
Jesus, read the article already. He can't drop DRM as he's contractually obligated to have it on the music he sells. If he decided to drop DRM, he would have to remove the music from those companies. Grow a brain. - theheadguy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28If you spend more than 10 minutes thinking about what he has said, your answer would be totally different. It's very clear you didn't read further than the acronym "DRM" and then you vomited up the only opinion that's been in your little brain since you read it on some usegroup somewhere.
- jbella, on 10/12/2007, -2/+28Sure Steve is a salesman, but think about it, if he wants the status quo, he wouldn't have to say anything. iTunes dominates the music downloading business. The iPod dominates the portable digital music player business... Steve doesn't need to win any popularity contests. He has already won them. On the other hand... Steve has thrown down the gauntlet. If tomorrow the big 4 music labels say "We are willing to license our music DRM free to anyone who wants to sell it" then iTunes will start selling their music DRM free. Part of me thinks that the only thing that makes sense about DRM is that hte music companies are using it to discourage sales of online music.
- ElBob, on 10/12/2007, -3/+28Good lord. He said "If they let us, we'll get rid of it" and people are still bitching. What will it take to convince you they are not using it for their own profit?
- Mediaright, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24Good point about the DRM for non label songs. But on the topic of giving FairPlay to hardware companies...read the freakin' article before you comment.
- MacParrot, on 10/12/2007, -5/+29weareglass,
You had me until you said buy CDs. Don't get me wrong, buying CDs is the only way to ensure you have a high quality digital copy of your music that with iTunes (or whatever organizational software you prefer) you can do pretty much whatever you please. Buying DRMed AAC, MP3, WMA or XYZ files is not going to give you that same quality and only a fool would think so.
My point is if downloaded AAC or MP3s works for you AND you want them to be free of DRM, buying CDs isn't going to get the point across. If you want the point to be made, only buy downloads from music stores that don't use DRM. When iTunes and all the Plays4Sure stores see their share going down at the same time the DRM-free store sales are going up, THEN the point is made and maybe they will learn. - actorboy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26Haha, hilarious, the Steve Jobs/Poop jokes never get old, even after the umteen-millionth time. I mean, seriously, what are you twelve? Get some new schtick.
- deadbaby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23To Apple's credit, FairPlay actually is pretty fair. I listen to my music on 2 computers and 1 iPod and I've never once had an incident with DRM.
- macaddct1984, on 10/12/2007, -3/+26Flag564, long time no see!
I'd be happy to gag you, in the least sexual way possible... - lmcintyre, on 10/12/2007, -4/+26I think Steve just told Europe to ***** off
- pixelbender, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23For the naysayers:
Call Apple what you want, call Jobs what you want, call him a faker, poser, shill, whatever.
I honestly am not concerned with whether or not Jobs is a gentleman in person, don't care if he's just "faking it," as long as the results are beneficial to me as a consumer. - darksheer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23No...Apple chooses to sell music with DRM because at the moment, they can sell it with DRM or they can not sell it. Their hands are as tied by the record industry as everyone's. To be honest, this article reads like a plea from Steve Jobs. He KNOWS that the real way to maximize profits from the iTunes store is NOT to lock people in. How many people (myself included) won't buy from the iTunes store because its useless to them with the DRM restrictions? Plenty.
Removal of DRM is the last hurdle that has to be crossed to take digital downloads from the sideplayer of music sales to the forefront. - paulstringer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20Go read the article, specifically the part about why they won't licence FairPlay to other hardware manufacturers. It sounds like fair reasoning.
- brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21"because it limits your choices for digital music, namely to the iTunes Store."
Wrong. I can buy music from eMusic or another retailer that offers DRM-free music, or I can buy CDs that are only a couple dollars more but give me the physical media plus the ability to have higher bitrates. Of course you would have known that had you read the article. - dj2ndnature, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21Interesting, getting an inside scoop of what Apple really thinks.
- darksheer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20Did you read the article? He said DRM is *not* cool.....
I'm all for calling out fanboys....but damn dude--at least know what you're talking about if you're gonna do it. - ace87, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20Go Steve! Get rid of DRM and the world will be a happier place
- AppleLuva, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19flag564, You're kidding me right?
You picked this quote to justify your argument. Do we REALLY want to look at the DRM schemes he's implemented into Vista??? Gates and Microsoft have done nothing but CAVED into the RIAA and MPAA. They've taken every possible alleyway to cater to these morons and you want to say "Gates said it first"? If anything, Microsoft, with PlaysForSure and now Zune (btw, they pay the record companies for every one sold now), have taken DRM to an extreme by completely restricting consumer use and coddling these fools.
I don't like Apple's DRM, or any DRM for that matter, but at the very least you have to give them credit for fighting for what is right and getting us the liberal usage we get with iTunes. It could be better but until things improve (DRM-Free) this is the world we're stuck in. - MacParrot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Apple DOES support DRM-free music. Don't believe me? Take any CD or digital track that is supported in iTunes and drop it in. Does it work? Then Apple supports DRM-free music. What it DOESN'T do is sell it. And as its been pointed out, Apple doesn't own the copyrights to the music or video they sell through iTunes, so they have to sell it on the conditions required by said copyright holders.
Also, not everything you download through ITS is DRMed. One example would be podcasts. A podcast downloaded from Apple will play in ANY digital player that supports the format the podcast was created in. The player itself won't sync to the ITS, but just drag and drop. - Indeed, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18This is a good example of a DRM-free store: http://www.bleep.com/
"- Finally, Bleep files have no ‘DRM’ or copy protection built in. We believe that most people like to be treated as customers and not potential criminals - DRM is easily circumvented and just puts obstacles in the way of enjoying music."
The store has a more limited market than ITMS, but if you like Aphex Twin you're SET. -
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