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Protesting Apple's DRM
tedet writes "On the heels of the recent DRM news from Bruce Perens, the UK Parliament, and the Norwegian Omsbudman, Defective By Design is planning a flash protest this coming Saturday targeting Apple Stores throughout the United States. Defective by Design is targeting Apple because '[a]s the largest distributor of DRM infected technology, Apple has set a new low in the mistreatment of our freedoms.' We can expect more hazmat suits, and they created some art specific to this action. Hopefully these direct actions by Defective by Design will get the U.S. up-to-speed with its continental counterparts." (Of course, some people are happy with Apple's DRM as a compromise which helped legitimize online music sales.)
It can hardly qualify as a flash protest if you announce it to the world days in advance.
Since Apple's implementation is the least obtrusive and most user friendly, does it make since to protest? Why not go after more draconian DRM?
No one got beat up more often than the mimes of the old west!
Hopefully these direct actions by Defective by Design will get the U.S. up-to-speed with its continental counterparts.
Yes, a bunch of random people in hazmat suits passsing out flyers is really going to make a HUGE difference. Really!
IMO, apple has one of the least obtrusive DRM setups available. Sure the fact that it isn't open to other players makes things difficult, but compared to the rediculous systems the RIAA/MPAA has come up with, Apple's stuff is great.
j.goforth
People should be blaming the record companies who wouldn't put their music up on the store unless Apple implemented some kind of DRM. And fairly weak DRM at that.
But nobody is forcing people to use the iTMS. If you don't like it, then just buy the CD which can be ripped and used in any device.
DRM exists because the RIAA wants it there. Apple is contractually bound to sell thier music with DRM on it. They can't just remove it at thier own discresion.
Go protest the RIAA membership companies, oh wait then you'd have to deal with the real problem. Nevermind.
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Polish Haiku
Apple's Fairplay DRM scheme is one of the best I've used. Apple allows you to make audio CDs and doesn't have a problem with file/image backup applications.
Do I wish Apple's DRM were better and less restrictive - you betcha! The price per song should be lower and with public disclosure of how much each party receives from each sale. The bitrate should also be higher to handle some more complex pieces of music. The number of CD burn times for each song should also be increased, not decreased. Video content should be able to be burned onto a standard and/or HD/BD DVD.
Too bad emusic cannot charge on per song basis; non-DRMed content is great (subscriptions suck).
If you want to protest, the usual method is by "voting with your feet." That doesn't mean marching in the streets, it means walking out and choosing another vendor. If you don't like iTunes DRM, then don't use it. Buy something else, like an unprotected CD and rip it yourself.
Ask someone to name an online music store, they'll name iTunes. Ask them to name an MP3 player, they'll name iPod. If you want to target the biggest guy in the business, Apple's it.
"Because Science" is one step from "Because old book". Try "Because of my experiment testing my falsifiable assertion".
They are much more numerous than iTunes tracks, and are equally DRM restricted!
GPL Deconstructed
I agree with you that DRM is an inherently bad technology, but I can't help but agree that the protests are better directed at more draconian schemes. The RIAA doesn't need Apple: should Apple pull out of the DRM game, the RIAA will simply move to stores with even worse models; God knows there are enough of those to keep the RIAA satisfied.
If the protests are to be truly effective, then they need to recognize that RIAA will always be as draconian as they possibly can. Thus, the protests should be focused to push RIAA to less draconian schemes than the status quo, not more. You don't do that by targeting moderates like Apple; you do it by targeting the more draconian stores. Then, as RIAA is forced to become accustomed to less draconian schemes (because the market won't stand for more draconian ones), you tighten the noose, continually pushing RIAA toward better schemes until you finally get them off of DRM completely.
Is this more difficult than simply targeting the largest vendor? Of course it is. It's also much slower. But it has a far lower chance of unintended consequences.
Yeah, but topple the well-meaning and unobtrusive big guy and what you end up with is the coronation of a dictator. I wonder if Sony will be buying SanDisk's mp3 player division soon...
I have a pretty good understanding of DRM and yes, APPLE is the market leader in online (drm'd) music sales. However, this is all due to the trickle down effect created by groups like the RIAA.
No major label will sell drm-free music. Emusic, the number 2 online store sells mostly drm-free indie label and back catalog stuff b/c no major label will allow them to sell the next Britney Spears album without some alleged protection.. And- if they did allow this, it would cost a pretty penny.
Apple just happens to be the number one player in the market due to their success with the IPOD. The labels had online stores and failed in the past. Every legit apple competitor, outside of emusic, sells DRM'd files. I don't think this is by choice.
If you want change, you need to start with the source. THE RIAA. THE MPAA. They set the terms that allow Apple to sell their content.
If I'm wrong, please enlighten me.
Thanks!
Kwame
That was the first and last purchase I made from iTMS.
THAT is how you protest DRM!
Seems like these guys want to hang around Apple stores and bitch to every customer who walks in trying to buy an iPod.