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Labels Push for a Unified DRM Standard
thejoelpatrol writes "Bad news for Apple fanatics but good news for all the crazy slashdotters who want an iPod but feel dirty using Apple's DRM: the labels are getting together and insisting that online stores standardize their DRM methods. Being the providers of the music, the labels clearly wield a lot of power, but so does Apple: without iTunes, the online music business is next to nothing. Will Apple give in? Not if they can help it -- they're on top of the world. Before anyone messes it up, AAC is an open format, while the Fairplay DRM standard is not."
Once again: a monopoly by itself is not illegal; abusing one's position as a monopoly is.
And ironically, a patent is a legal means of acquiring a temporary monopoly on a specific piece of technology, after which the patent holder is free to (in practice, think software patents) abuse their legally aquired monopoly at will.
.: Max Romantschuk
I use a Russian music site - allofmp3.com - they offer an english language site and music from around the world. I download tracks with no DRM in M4A format that itunes/ipod use. Prices are at a per meg downloaded not per song. This makes most single tracks about .06 cents US and alblums around .75 to .80 cents US. Most of the music I download is Russian but they have a wide selection of US artist also. These tracks work seemlessly with itunes and ipods. They take Paypal so no Russian site every sees your CC#. I have over 400 Russian tracks and have yet to spend the $25US that I put on the account.