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Apple Shuns DRM Efforts So Far
Graff writes "This was found on SiliconValley.com. In an article for the Mercury News, Dan Gillmor talks about how Apple is still standing firm against the Digital Rights Management (DRM) efforts which the entertainment industry is trying to force on the public. There's also another article on the fight for our digital rights in Congress."
Apple knows that as the little guy they have to actually make their users happy. DRM doesn't make for happy users, but "Rip, Mix, Burn" commercials do.
"Then, one day, I tried to burn a mix CD on my PC, and it wouldn't let me. That's when I bought an Apple."
Seriously, though, that's the best argument I've heard so far to buy a Mac.
no, it has to do w/iPod. It's business. It's not about making the public care for them more.
I am SURE other MP3/Ogg player manus are REALLy thrilled about DRM.
One of these two things will happen:
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Trust.
Intel, AMD, and Microsoft basically believe that we are untrustworthy until proven trustworthy. Even when we prove it, it's only for that exchange.
Apple believes their customers are trustworthy.
Which company would you rather do business with?
Mox
The thought that Microsoft "voted" for or against any legislation at all is kind of unnerving. I thought that's what we had legislators for.
Apple is setting themselves up as the computer to own if you want to work with multimedia, and installing DRM (which restricts fair use on a host of multimedia types) gets in the way of that vision.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
I suppose I'm glad that Apple isn't implementing DRM into their products, but this is simply a strategic business move, not some brave defense of our rights. Believe me, if they stood to benefit financially from DRM, it would be there (and very may well be in the future).
Before we all have to endure the ensuing "Apple cares about us!" and "Yay for Apple!" posts, just remember that Apple does not equal freedom. Free, open source software does.
Apple, Inc. does not care about you or I, in fact, no ones gives a shit about you or I, so take control yourself by using, developing for, and advancing Linux. If you don't like having others make your choices, start making your own.
DRM is coming -- it's too useful not to catch on.
define useful. Draconian? opressive? interfering? sure...those are "useful" to a small handful of people. But to the masses it makes something utilitarian become considerably more difficult to do anything with.
The question is not will we be able to resist DRM, but rather, who will be empowered by it? With the right laws, the answer could be "the public". It will be hard to get the right laws, given the evil influences of Microsoft and the entertainment industry, but it's not a physical or moral impossibility.
That's where you're even more wrong. Resisting the use of DRM is important. Your comments remind me of the people who are just accepting any restrictions of fredom and "guilty until proven innocent" legislation or motion made since 91101. What we need is a serious revamp of copyright laws to expand fair use and decrease the time of copyrights. Joe Musician creates music in his computer these days or his garage and can make his own music to distribute easily. Therefore, pandering to the music industry, for example, and begging for their table scraps is stupid when there are lots of bands out there who are as good or better who just don't get airplay. Your defeatist attitude towards the future of freedom from DRM systems is not helping.
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
Yay Microsoft.
Seriously, though, the notion that Palladium is okay because you're not forced into booting into it is a joke. Microsoft built a billion-dollar industry by understanding that there are many kinds of forces, and some of the most powerful are market forces.
Once a large installed TCPA compliant processor base exists, you're going to find yourself forced into booting into Palladium mode because you won't be able to access the content you need without it. Your boss will send you e-mail, for instance, which will only be able to be read in Palladium mode. So you'll have to boot into it. Microsoft knows this. Microsoft is counting on it.
That's why it's so important that we refuse to upgrade to TCPA chips. We know from the DivX debacle that consumers have the ability to reject bad choices. We need to draw the same kind of line in the sand with TCPA chips. If AMD and Intel take a massive economic hit on the Trusted Computing architecture, they'll reject it. My fear is that a shallow understanding of the Palladium future by consumers + naive, buzzword-driven purchasing by PHBs will enable Trusted Computing to establish a market foothold. The battle lines are being drawn and I think we have a lot of work to do.
He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.
I hate to flamebait, but I don't think there's any other way of saying this...
To everyone who thinks Apple is "sticking up for your rights" or some crap: Get a clue.
This is purely marketing - Apple doesn't "believe" in anything any more than any other company. Given the chance, Apple would introduce the "friendly fascism" of DRM just the same as Microsoft has been doing. The only difference is that Apple can't *afford* to alienate their users in this way, whereas Microsoft is able to piss off a lot more people at once and get away with it.
Don't drink the Apple kool aid and believe that they're doing anything with your rights in mind. Buy an Apple because you love Aqua, or because you like OS X's mainstream application support, but with the ability to whip open tcsh when you feel the need. But don't buy their stuff because you think they're doing your rights any good. If they do so, it's incidental, and precarious at best.
If you're interested in your rights, go install Debian and only use Vorbis for your music. Yeah, you don't get Aqua, but at least you can be true to yourself. ([plug]and in all, while not as pretty as Aqua, GNOME 2 is pretty damn nice, usability-wise[/plug]) Otherwise, get an OS X box and be happy, but be happy with it for honest reasons.
The Free desktop that Just Works
DRM and such in effect really create a different product line. One that is more constrained then what we all have come to understand is the highly versatile power of "computers".
Incorporating DRM and such constraining technology
is to create a lessor in versatility product line.
There is a real and notable difference in such product lines. The DRM being closer to a consumer appliance then a computer.
It is outright FRAUD being directed at the consumers to deceive the consumers into thinking these two different product lines are one and the same, which they are in fact not.
Further more it is slanderious, libelious and inherently defamation of consumer character to base the proved false need for the incorporation of such constraning technology on the false claim that consumers are theives.
I have no problem with hose who want to create and sell such a product line inclusive of DRM and such. Nor do I have a problem with those who produce works only accessable by such DRM oriented devices.
What I have a problem with is the very clear intent to subvert consumer choice and free enterprise thru acts of deception and collusion on the part of industry and Government.
There are now two clearly different product lines.
One constrained by DRM based and like technology and the other not.
Knowing this is the first step towards properly addressing the deceivers and colluders.
FUD if i ever saw it.
Do you know what "FUD" means?
DRM makes it a pain in the ass to archive your CDs to MP3 and to play them on other boxes, and to reinstall your OS, and oh yeah...it also makes it a pain in the ass to run what you want to.
DRM does none of these things. If the artists wants to allow you to archive your CDs to MP3, then they set the bit which allows you to archive your CDs to MP3.
Why would I purchase an MP3 or MPEG4 when I could just buy a DVD or CD and then make it myself, making it less suceptible to loss?
Because you don't want to walk to the store? Because the artist doesn't have enough money to stock a store near you?
Remember how big a deal it was back in the days when Intel released their microprocessor serial number and everybody hated it (even though it would probabbly have brought more good to the world than palladium EVER would?) and they disabled it *BY*DEFAULT*?
that, my friend, is what i am hoping for with microsoft. we all know that palladium will be released regardless of what happens, but if we make enough impact for it to boot into the "insecure mode" (without too much bitching and whining) by default, we can have a good chance of killing it. all it needs is really some (okay, a lot of) bad publicity. the thing that did the intel trick was the "privacy" deal (even though, actually, it wasn't so much a big deal) -- being that Palladium has the potential to do THAT much harm, it makes you wonder why no newspaper has did any kind of real columns on it...
oh wait... you don't mean the newspaper (media) is ultimately the same group of people as the RIAA / MPAA (content providers)? outlook not so good, eh?
My life in the land of the rising sun.
DRM is just a technology. You are talking about a particular implementation. Yes, like any technology it will be used for good and evil, but that doesn't mean we should ban it.
This is fairly ridiculous.
Yes, Apple is a business. The business isn't there to make us happy and protect our rights. However, it does happen to believe that doing these two things is in the company's best financial interests. So they are doing great things such as this shunning of the DRM. Why does it make a difference if Apple is doing this out of love for humanity or because it just makes sense? It doesn't change the fact that it is a Good Thing, and seems to be a trend with Apple these days.
It's just like with legislation. If our Congressmen voted against DRM, I wouldn't care if it was purely out of the desire for votes in their next election and didn't care a whit about actually helping people. So long as they are motivated to do the best thing for the people.
If you found out some major app or utility for Linux was made by a programmer who didn't give a crap about freedom or rights, but just wanted to have that app for free (read: motivated by money), would you discourage people from using it?
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
Apple is very sensitive to both its own copyrights and such, remember the recycle/trash bin discussion and the lawsuits of the 1980s, but Apple was started by hardware freaks, and not software freaks. Steve knows the work-arounds are too easy, that's why Apple never really bothered with copy protected software in the first place.
Bill Gates is focused on software, and since the mid 1970s he has been obsessed with preventing programmers, uh, oops, consumers from copying his programs bootleg style.
This is a very old difference between these two camps. DVDs, CDs, digital media, whatever, for Steve it's all the same. Hardware has a much greater profit margin, and he wants to sell primarily hardware. See how much of the current i-Suite is bundled or downloadable free of charge?
It's to drive the sales of hardware units.
Sony and BMG have their own problems. BMG bought Napster to try to outrun this problem. But it's not Steve's problem.
Even for his Pixar films, he controls the rights to the lucrative movie theatre sales. Again, to really see a movie, you have to have a large screen and a popcorn machine. Bill doesn't work that angle, Steve does. Steve makes his money without worrying if some kid is going to copy his digital wares, because he has already turned his profits.
Let's not see Steve as an altruist, but simply someone who knows how to pick profitable models, that don't require unnatural market protections.
Remember, DRM is not only a pain in the @$$, but they will also have to raise taxes to reinforce it with police and the courts. FUN. ;-(
CDs provide more functionality than vinyl. WMA provides less functionality than CDs. Why would anyone switch, given the cost? And don't tell me that it will be required by law, because if all those Discmen out there don't work people will scream. (Example: the utterly dead-on-the-vine HDTV.)
sulli
RTFJ.
This post will be filled with tangents -- bear with me. =)
I'm a big PC fan and I love Linux. This post made me really think and actually consider buying an Apple. What I want to see is options. When I can customize my desktop to the extent I can with GNOME, I'll start recommending it to folks. However, I'll still probably use Linux for 1) Game compatibility and 2) price.
I agree that Linux doesn't "just work", it does work most of the time. I put RH 7.3 with Ximian GNOME on a box and everything just works for me. No issues with word docs, no issues getting my browser and email to integrate with other apps... etc. I've got my parents and a family friend on Linux, and none of these people are "computer literate." I think the only thing they really need right now is easier installation and management of programs and files and more interoperation.
One of the things that gets me is that some folks arrogantly say Linux is so hard to use, but in fact they haven't touched it past a two year old version of Slackware or they only use Debian. Linux has been moving very fast in the past few years and it's starting to speed up even more. Ximian has been out for a while, I like it and I think it works well. A lot of people are collaborating well on interoperability and things are changing. Linux moves faster than proprietary stuff, so it's a fallacy to base your views of it without having used the stuff that's come out in the last 6 months.
As for Apple, I think the Slashdot readership is just that -- a group of readers. A bunch of different people. You can't call slashdotters fickle when there are overwhelming differences in opinion one day to the next -- some folks are just being quiet, some folks are speaking up and some folks are just expressing their views regarding individual issues with Apple separately.
As for my opinion, I say that Apple should move more towards OSS and prove that it's possible. Not all of their money is based on software, although I'll admit I have no figures. I would be behind them all the way, but they have the mantra that "What's good for Apple is good for you."
Default options are wonderful if you don't want to research configurations. But locking configs down is ridiculous, IMO.
~Dalcius
Rome wasn't burnt in a day.
"Of course, they make some money on the iPod itself, but not compared to selling computers."
The margins on the iPod are likely much higher than the ones on the PC because you can get away with higher margins at lower prices. A lot of people see a candy bar for a dollar and will pay for it, even if the candy bar takes 5 or 10 cents to make. That's a 100-200% markup. Most retail stores need a 50% markup over costs of merchandise to cover expenses of staff and make a nice profit as well (after all, if you're not turning a profit, you are going out of business soon).
The iPod has some plastic, a few chips, software, and a laptop HD. Total cost to Apple is probably 40 to 60% of the price of the device at the store because of their volume purchasing power. The store takes in maybe 10% of the price, the rest is divided between Apple and the company that ships things to stores.
Ever notice how the 10gb and 20gb models are only a little bit apart (compared to the 5gb and 10gb models)? That's because they could probably sell the 20gb model for very close to the price (if not the same price as) the 10gb model and still make a profit similar to that of the 5gb model. The extra cost to them of making it a 20gb drive instead of a 10gb drive is small enough that they want to make it look more attractive to buy the 20gb version, because they make ~99% of the price difference between it and the 10gb model straight into their pockets. That's why FastFood places will "supersize" meals as well -- an extra 5-10 cents of cola and fries to gain an extra 60 cents of money is a very smart thing to do if you want more in your margins.
What about computers? Computers aren't as simple, and the parts cost more overall. Most places have very, very slim margins and rely on economies of scale to give them a healthy profit margin. That is how Dell is so succesful(their margin is larger because you pay it all to them, with no $$ going to the stores or other middlemen). That's why VA systems got out of the computer hardware business --- teeny, tiny margins, even on server hardware. That's why Compaq and HP merged (slimmer margins mean more must be shipped). That is also why white-box computers flourish (speciality shops charge more, but give more in terms of selection and control). Electronics Boutique charges more than Wal-mart on games, but they have a much wider selection, and they will buy back used games (as well as sell used goods).
So keep in mind that the iPod is a very smart move for Apple, not just a Mac accessory designed to push their computers. Just because something costs more, doesn't mean they're making more.
--
Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
MS would be strongly against a government mandated DRM system.
Why?
Simple, standards. If the government says how DRM will work then everyone will be able to write to that and have DRM. If MS gets to make their own DRM system they'll be able to ensure that only the companies they want can play along.
--- I wish I could hear the soundtrack to my life. That way I'd know when to duck.
What Apple is really doing is sticking up for what Jobs believes in, which happes to be that DRM is a bad idea for consumers and for companies.
Some companies are basically giant extensions of a leaders personality. I would argue Apple is such a company, as is MS, as is Oracle, and to a lesser extent, Sun.
Your argument that Microsoft can "afford" to do this so they do, is silly. Why would any company do something if they knew it would hurt them? MS does it because Bill Gates believes in this stuff, just as Apple thinks it's stupid so they don't.
Just think of it as a giant war fought with huge robots ala Anime, except that the robots are replaced by companies. That's exactly what we are in the middle of, and you should be damn thankful that one of the giant robots is protecting the peasants instead of firing giant fricking lasers at the Barn of Rights where all the Animals of Freedom are housed.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
> The list price of $130 for OS X is perhaps a little high.
...
How the hell can anyone say OS X is expensive for $129, while Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional sells for $135 and MS XP Professional for $187 on amazon.com. Out of box, OS X is not only far superior in style, but also provides much more tools than XP and Linux combined. The programming tools alone could worth over $1000, let alone AppleWorks, iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, iSync, iChat,Mail, Address Book,
We have 3 here, an old iMac as a gateway and AirPort Base Station, an iBook and a Power Mac. The family license is a good deal. I would say that Mac people tend to be more honest and willing to pay for software they use.
Once you see the light of Mac and OS X, you just don't want to touch a PC. I got rid of my PC and Win XP a few months ago, and don't want to look back. We have everything we need on the Macs including MS Office, and they just work. All the machines are on 24/7 and keep running for weeks or months, they will go asleep when no used for a while and wake up in a fraction of a second. I have to shut down my PC every day - just too noisy, and it still crashes a few times a week.
Generally speaking, most PC users have a very crude and simplistic view when they talking about computers, all they care about is the list price, the clock speed or the size of hard drive. Mac users are more sophisticated in the sense that they consider the total cost of ownership, the build quality, the design, the style, the productivity as well as the performance.
A friend of mine has been a PC user for all these years up till 3 weeks ago when she bought an LCD iMac, and she just adored it, including little things like the bouncing icons, the genie effect, the smooth text, the shadow and transparency.