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Jobs Favors DRM-Free Music Distribution
Another anonymous reader tips an essay by Steve Jobs on the Apple site about DRM, iTunes, and the iPod. Perhaps it was prompted by the uncomfortable pressure the EU has been putting on Apple to open up the iPod. Jobs places the blame for the existence and continuing reliance on DRM squarely on the music companies. Quoting: "Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly."
The best part of TFA was that an important CEO like Jobs is finally publicly telling the world what has been debated countless times in forums like Slashdot: maintaining DRM is a pain in the ass, high cost in research, maintenance, logisitcs, etc. More importantly it is useless against fighting piracy.
Will a DRM free (less costs in time and money) online store mean that songs can be priced at 50 cents or less? Meaning a benefit in volume of sales, revenue and in keeping the big four, online stores and consumers happy. Sure sounds to good to be true. Lets hope for it.