US trustbusters to Europe: Apple DRM monopoly? What monopoly?

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Thoughtful article: Thought this was a great article, well=reasoned and looking at all sides of the issue. Well done. Some thoughts of my own:

Is this too nascent of a market to start heavily regulating? Should market forces be given a chance to take hold before governments step in?

Is Apple really limiting consumers that much? Given that online sales comprise less than 5% of the music market, and that the vast, vast majority of songs on portable players come from other sources, isn't it just a tiny minority of consumers being inconvenienced, or locked in?

Is it likely that at some point in the future, Apple will choose to license FairPlay (assuming download sales eventually surpass iPod sales)?

---Except for a few hold-outs, vinyl records are gone, as are 8-tracks and cassettes---

Note that these decisions were made by the record companies, not the consumers. Vinyl is "dead" because the companies involved realized that it cost half as much to manufacture a cd as an album, and they could charge twice as much for it. Albums were deliberately phased out, despite continuing demand.

Has Apple done anything illegal here? Can you compare locking your song sales to your player to the discriminatory OEM deals MS made? How is this different from Xbox games only playing on an Xbox, PS2 games only playing on a PS2?

Is the government really sticking up for Apple, or are they, at the behest of the RIAA, trying to shore up DRM? If DRM is abolished, who loses out? Not Apple, they'll keep selling songs and iPods. Don't decisions like this affect all manufacturers? MS is starting their own store, linked to their own player. Samsung is doing the same. Do they have anything to lose here as well?; Posted by: tic swayback Posted on: 09/15/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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Thanks for NOTHING, David Berlind Arthas | 09/15/06

Huh? tic swayback | 09/15/06

You never heard of ClamWin? Edward Meyers | 09/15/06

Or avast? (NT) ju1ce | 09/18/06

Or AVG (nt) James T. Kirk | 09/18/06

Or Avira AntiVir? Bill4 | 09/18/06

Thanks for NOTHING, David Berlind joe6pack_z | 09/18/06

Thoughtful article tic swayback | 09/15/06

You have a very good point johnUSAF | 09/18/06

RE: You have a very good point Protagonistic | 09/18/06

Scrutinized, yes, but... Swift48 | 09/18/06

Which brings up the next question tic swayback | 09/18/06

Games and music are not the same. MrCrun | 09/18/06

Aren't they tic swayback | 09/18/06

But we're forgeting one point... Dom Doe | 09/22/06

Monopoly definition Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/15/06

price control Spacely Spacerockets | 09/16/06

You forgett about collusion Edward Meyers | 09/16/06

separate issue Spacely Spacerockets | 09/16/06

Do you even know what they are accused of? Edward Meyers | 09/16/06

Do you know what monopoly power means? Spacely Spacerockets | 09/16/06

Cute- No cigar though Edward Meyers | 09/16/06

Apple does have monopoly power uberpinguin | 09/17/06

That's no the definition to of a Monopoly voska | 09/18/06

Voska, you're incorrect dberlind | 09/18/06

David, define the "market" where you say... Spoon Jabber | 09/18/06

You're describing abusing a monopoly voska | 09/18/06

David Berlind needs to look at Microsoft first nomorems | 09/18/06

So, they don't use Windows... Spoon Jabber | 09/18/06

Edward... nomorems | 09/18/06

Consumer harm tic swayback | 09/16/06

Price control doesn't imply the prices are lower Edward Meyers | 09/16/06

In this particular case, it does tic swayback | 09/16/06

iTunes includes more than... Edward Meyers | 09/16/06

As I said, it's part of the larger picture tic swayback | 09/16/06

So, you want Apple to make no money at all? nomorems | 09/18/06

RIAA which branch of the gov are they mrlinux | 09/18/06

When Edward Meyers | 09/18/06

Pricing power not a primary criterion Anton Philidor | 09/16/06

"Microsoft had ceased to dictate to OEMs'' nomorems | 09/18/06

Key element missing Real World | 09/18/06

iPod fans 'shunning iTunes store' Anton Philidor | 09/16/06

Missing something there Edward Meyers | 09/16/06

Don;t blame Apple. nomorems | 09/18/06

Chuckle... ladyirol | 09/18/06

I know 3 people with IPOD voska | 09/18/06

Err...not just that. nomorems | 09/18/06

I think pigs are flying... ju1ce | 09/18/06

it's all true dlmeyer@... | 09/18/06

Having a monopoly isn't illegal bknabe@... | 09/17/06

This very feature Edward Meyers | 09/18/06

Purpose tic swayback | 09/18/06

APPLEs iTunes and iPod a MONOPOLY , NO WAY ! Intellihence | 09/18/06

missing the point willyu | 09/18/06

They do that with DVDs, it's call Region Codes voska | 09/18/06

yes...missing a point... ladyirol | 09/18/06

I believe MS sold thier share of Apple voska | 09/19/06

You are correct tic swayback | 09/19/06

Well said opensourcepro | 09/18/06

Worshiping the Wonderful Mouse and Great Rabbit InsaneWayne | 09/18/06

Apple doesn't have a monopoly voska | 09/18/06

Numbers are even smaller tic swayback | 09/18/06

Apple Monopoly robflam@... | 09/18/06

Apple and the RNC tbsteph@... | 09/18/06

Not Apple tic swayback | 09/18/06

It's a Straw-Man argument to make a false point! slsmag | 09/18/06

Another reason tic swayback | 09/18/06

DRM is the issue... morgande | 09/18/06

NOT limited to iPods and a few phones dlmeyer@... | 09/18/06

...but what software can play FairPlay songs? voyager529@... | 11/04/06

Could Zune play I-Tunes voska | 09/18/06

No, because... Qbt | 09/18/06

I wouldn't say "never" tic swayback | 09/18/06

Well... Qbt | 09/18/06

Sorry, the word is out on Zune tic swayback | 09/18/06

You missed one point voska | 09/18/06

What? Qbt | 09/18/06

All I'm saying is an OS is and OS voska | 09/18/06

Ridiculously bad comparison bahamude | 09/18/06

You are correct David ... mwagner@... | 09/18/06

Yes, too true! Thank you, M Wagner! JonathonDoe | 09/18/06

Fixing prices? Swift48 | 09/18/06

Innovation vs. Market Diversion dartery | 09/18/06

DRM is not monopoly Swift48 | 09/18/06

If Microsoft has a monopoly on PCs that runs Windows.... sulak | 09/18/06

First I would like to know... ju1ce | 09/18/06

Define the market... Anton Philidor | 09/18/06

Monopolies are legal tic swayback | 09/18/06

You don't know the market mlindl | 09/19/06

I think what he is trying to say is... BitTwiddler | 09/18/06

Apple has always been a monopoly zchief | 09/18/06

Didn't they? tic swayback | 09/18/06

Um IBM did exactly that voska | 09/18/06

You're completely wrong. olePigeon | 09/19/06

what a load of crap... doctorSpoc | 09/18/06

Steve Jobs Walton big red one | 09/18/06

Question? ladyirol | 09/18/06

-A- zedman2006 | 09/19/06

Well, yes, market definition is everything . . . JonathonDoe | 09/18/06

Your rights Punchey | 09/18/06

I find it odd... Edward Meyers | 09/18/06

Actually... Punchey | 09/18/06

I call BS Edward Meyers | 09/19/06

You have misinterpreted Punchey | 09/19/06

And these EULAs have never been stricken down??? Edward Meyers | 09/19/06

What Ought To Be Punchey | 09/19/06

You just outlined the problem Edward Meyers | 09/19/06

You missed the point Punchey | 09/19/06

I don't agree voska | 09/20/06

Listen, Edward... nomorems | 09/18/06

Its the exact opposite Edward Meyers | 09/19/06

Sorry Edward, you don't "own" the music Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

Then it is false advertising Edward Meyers | 09/19/06

That clause only applies when you install it voska | 09/19/06

Non-transferrable licenses Punchey | 09/19/06

You missed one part voska | 09/19/06

RE: You missed one part Punchey | 09/19/06

I've seen license like that too voska | 09/19/06

Absolutely wrong tic swayback | 09/19/06

OK, if you think that you own it... Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

I can re-sell it tic swayback | 09/19/06

Actually... Punchey | 09/19/06

OK, I'll take your word for it Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

License vs Product voska | 09/19/06

Voska, the CD player manufacturer.... Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

Punchey and Spoon tic swayback | 09/19/06

That's license for the patent voska | 09/19/06

Walmart doesn't buy used goods voska | 09/19/06

OK, I believe you.... Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

I've never had a problem with that voska | 09/19/06

Read the law voska | 09/19/06

Hasn't the law been defined in court? Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

You're confusing two separate things tic swayback | 09/19/06

Insults don't help you spread FUD voska | 09/19/06

Sorry Spoon Jabber | 09/19/06

Apology accepted voska | 09/19/06

APPLE is not a Monopoly ! Intellihence | 09/18/06

Funny Qbt | 09/18/06

It's "marketshare" Punchey | 09/18/06

I agree voska | 09/18/06

No, it's abuse of monopoly power Fred Fredrickson | 09/21/06

Probably would work for APPLE either voska | 09/18/06

Microsoft does not make their own PC hardware. nomorems | 09/18/06

RIAA Competing on Price? JakAttak | 09/18/06

Ring tones are a specialize niche market voska | 09/18/06

All anti-trust laws must die [nt] Omch'Ar | 09/18/06

An economy without competition is anti-consumer (nt) CobraA1 | 09/18/06

Competition v. community ray@... | 10/26/06

Let them eat linux dukemang | 09/18/06

"Let them eat linux" nomorems | 09/18/06

2ND that zedman2006 | 09/19/06

I'll take capitalism to government control, thanks GreenChild | 09/18/06

Brain ray@... | 10/26/06

Kids are going back to Records ikara.au@... | 09/18/06

Follow the money scott_c_jordan | 09/18/06

More liberal BS from Dan anythingbutmine0 | 09/18/06

it's all bs... bgonetoo | 09/18/06

You have misinterpreted Punchey | 09/19/06

Think of cellphones A.Sinic | 09/19/06

Ah the irony tic swayback | 09/19/06

MS has dropped PaysForSure georgep_z | 09/21/06

Sorry for the Freudian slip georgep_z | 09/21/06

So go buy a Zune and use Napster. It's not illegal to be a monopoly. olePigeon | 09/19/06

No can do tic swayback | 09/19/06

Hah, I forgot about that. :P Then go get a Rio. olePigeon | 09/19/06

I stopped reading - Monopolies are illegal? Since when? mlindl | 09/19/06

free choice Monkeypox | 09/19/06

There is no monopoly slylabs13 | 09/19/06

Dan has to write stories like this - MS compells him to mlindl | 09/19/06

There is no comparing Apple and Microsoft georgep_z | 09/20/06

Silly premise David Fred Fredrickson | 09/21/06

avoid the Digital Rights Mafia bblackmoor@... | 09/22/06

FM Radio johndifo | 09/22/06

iPod to iTunes pagansoul | 09/22/06

Walmart and movie studios holycow_z | 09/22/06

What's worse than a monolithic OS? kiddpeat | 09/23/06

Parts well said Fujikid2 | 09/24/06

Unfortunately DemonX | 09/25/06

Fascism and the big lie ray@... | 10/26/06

RE: US trustbusters to Europe: Apple DRM monopoly? What monopoly? mergdfg | 07/31/09

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