Apple's Jobs calls for DRM-free world

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Completely missed my point

Let's examine what DRM is from a street shop point of view. You go into the store, pick out what you want, take it to the register, pay for it, show the receipt to the security guard, then go home happy. Without DRM, that would be the end of the transaction between the store and customer. But here's what happens with DRM: After you show your receipt to the guard, you're allowed to leave only if you allow having the security guard going home with you and stop you from using your purchase with a non-store brand item, or doing something else totally legal, but the store just doesn't like. Now if you don't like those terms, what would be your recourse? Returning the item to the shop is one way, but that's not possible with online music. Depending on the store's DRM policy, you might transfer/sell your item to another person, but then that person now has to deal with the security guard. Then there's the pirated item, which now looks pretty enticing since it does not have a security guard looking over your shoulder.

Now, if the store in question didn't have DRM, what advantage now would the pirated item have over the store item? None, really. Or if the store offered both a DRM and non-DRM version of the item, you have a legal choice as to what you think has more value to both yourself and the store, and the pirated item looks more like a "stupid cheap knock-off".

Given this, can you see why E-Music has done so well without DRM?

Posted by: Tony Agudo   Posted on: 02/07/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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