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Real Worried About Apple Lawsuits
sebFlyte writes "silicon.com is reporting that Real is very worried that Apple will sue it over its Harmony technology that 'breaks' iTunes' FairPlay DRM to allow its music to play on the iPod. They acknowledged in an SEC filing that a lawsuit from Apple would potentially be very damaging to the company's bottom line, as it accepts that a court might not agree that the reverse-engineering is legal."
Well why don't you just annouce it on Slashdot, and maybe Apple won't hear!
So I know might risk the savage wrath of the Slashgods here, but I really can't find myself feeling sorry for Real. Reverse engineering is wrong if you're just trying to copy off the other guy - innovate and make something better than the other guy for a change.
Apple built a product (iTunes + iPod) that a lot of consumers love (marketshare speaks much louder than OGG support, open-ness, etc.), and Real wants a piece of that because very few are using their service. Why is it that we think just because it involves a computer or teh intarweb that it should all be fair game (or fair play, to pull a pun)?
If I create a product that is easier to use, looks good, and appeals to more consumers than everyone else's product, why should I have to share? I mean, if in the mean time I was running around telling the music companies that they could only use my service or could get some sort of incentive to not allow other services (i.e., the allegations behind much of the Wintel monopoly) that'd be one thing, but it appears that nothing of that sort happened.
Apple sets a great example IMHO of how a tech company should do things. No, they aren't always the fastest, most compatible, free software and open source (two things I happen to like) loving people, but when people (consumers) have a choice, they choose iPod in a very large landslide. Don't try to beat Apple by making them open FairPlay, or support more non-DRMed standards on the iPod, or whatever. Beat them by doing something better. Remember, iPod was a relatively late comer to the digital music scene, and yet it did things so much better than everyone else it quickly took a huge lead.
If only more companies would try to serve their markets by simply doing things better the other guys, not trying to copy or out-price or out-market them (though admittedly, Apple has fallen for this in the past), maybe we'd have more innovation and progress in technology these days instead of trying to figure which DRM scheme will make the most content providers happy and make the decision for the next gen DVD wars. I want to do with my music whatever I want like any of you, but I (and millions of others) don't mind being a little restricted if it means I get to use a great product. Consumers still drive this economy more than companies - if we don't like what they offer, don't buy it.