Britons Frustrated by DRM

thesp writes "The BBC is reporting that UK music lovers are 'frustrated' with DRM restrictions and pricing of online music purchases. The confusion over file formats and player compatibility are being compounded with the desire to 'own' rather than 'license' an album or track, leading to widespread concern. This debate has recently been the province only of the technologists and the media companies, with the consumer being regarded as unaware and unwitting. Is this a sign that this picture is changing, with consumers begining to realise and leverage their own market power?"

Comments

Hey Brits!!

[Anonymous Coward]

It's called a "tea party". Throw your music into the Thames!

You know about tea, right??

Re:Hey Brits!!

[salparadyse]

Never, ever make a joke about tea to an Englishman. It's on the same level as flag burning in the US.

Re:Hey Brits!!

[surprise_audit]

Never, ever make a joke about tea to an Englishman. It's on the same level as flag burning in the US.

It's worse than that - the Romans attempted to invade Britain several times, and were only successful when they hit on the idea of landing on a Friday at 4pm, during teatime. The Romans had plenty of time to establish fortifications on the shore before the British warriors returned on the following Monday.

Re:Finally, but will it do anything?

[MoonFog]

This is in Britain where British law applies. If the UK decides that it is legal for citizens to circumvent these measures, or find them outright illegal (didn't France recently do this?) there is NOTHING RIAA can do about it, monopoly or not. They will do what they are told or face the consequences.

A good thing, too

[treff89]

Thank god consumers are "rejecting" DRM. It can only be a bad thing for manufacturers [such as Apple] (no flame intent) to have control over music files. What the people want is to be able to download a file and to use it like a file, not to download a restricted piece of music, which is only playable by specific players (hard- and software), only allowed on "x" computers, and unable to be shared around to friends. That is against the general undertone of "freedom" on the Internet and this non-acceptance by users can only be a good thing.

Re:Finally, but will it do anything?

[CdBee]

There is a British Phonographic Industry association, but the Recording Industry Association of America has no legal power here.

Cost is the biggest issue

[iainl]

I see a lot of the comments echo my own worries with these online music stores; they're just too bloody expensive.

Partly it's that we're being forced to pay much higher download costs than the US or Europe pay for tracks, but it's also that with real CDs we can import. If you want a whole album, you can order it from most online stores (or sometimes even buy in your local supermarket) for around £9. When it costs at least £8 to buy the tracks from iTunes, and usually around £14 from the WMA sites, you're paying a hell of a lot for music in lower quality and covered in DRM that stops you using it on some devices.

In theory, at least, BMG and Sony are trying to force you to pay the high costs by ruining the CD versions with stuff that is meant to kill your PC. But I've got a bunch of these discs (it's hard not to when ordering discs online and so not seeing in advance if it will have "protection"), and not one of them has caused iTunes to bat an eyelid.

Re:Finally, but will it do anything?

[Anonymous Coward]

didn't France recently do this?

No. A recent judgement involving consumer watchdog associations said:
- companies have the right to put protections on their CDs
- consumers who experience problems reading these CDs are entitled a refund.
Now, circumventing encryption is still authorised in Europe. The problem would be a DMCA-like bill at the European level (such as EUCD).

Cory Doctorow was right

[Kartoch]

Remember me the speech of Cory Doctorow given to Microsoft's Research Group.:

Here's what I'm here to convince you of:
1. That DRM systems don't work
2. That DRM systems are bad for society
3. That DRM systems are bad for business
4. That DRM systems are bad for artists
5. That DRM is a bad business-move for MSFT

Bleep.com

[oldManSquad]

There is only one legal music site that gets it right that im aware of, and that's Bleep. Download site of the wonderful warp label, home of Aphex and Autechre among others.

They have no DRM controls and have always had top quality mp3s. They are now starting to implement FLAC as well. If you like the type of music they provide, indie electronica / rock / hip hop etc, then I thoroughly recommend them.

Re:it was bound to happen

[mustrum_ridcully]

Mind you Apple are being taken to the European Court because they prevent UK downloaders from using the French and German iTunes sites and getting cheaper downloads.

For those of you who don't know the EUs single market prohibits this, a person from one EU must be able to buy something from another EU state as if they were living there - no discrimination can be made on grounds of nationality - thereby ensuring the free movement of goods.

Re:it was bound to happen

[DJProtoss]

The thing is, there is nothing to stop you going to france/spain and getting it for the cheaper price, and so its ok.
Even if you were to go to France, you couldn't use the French iTunes store, as it won't let you without a french registered bank account. Thats whats infringing.