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Apple To Grant All Labels DRM-Free Distribution
SexCaptain writes "MacRumors.com reveals a letter circulated by Apple to all producers of content for the iTunes Store, announcing that from May onward they can sell their music at higher quality and free of DRM. Hopefully this opens the doors for labels like Netwerk. This is a big step in the right direction, although it's unclear exactly what Apple means by 'higher quality,' and there is no mention of price changes. (Apple charges $0.30 more per song for DRM-free content from EMI and encodes it at 256K.) Quoting from the letter: 'Many of you have reached out to iTunes to find out how you can make your songs available higher quality and DRM-free," Apple wrote in the communication. "Starting next month, iTunes will begin offering higher-quality, DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to all customers."
I am not very concerned about this DRM-thing. I have for a long time said that the market will "fix" this, one way or another. If the customers don't accept DRM, they will get pirated versions without it -- and those who wants to earn money from these potential customers have to adept an acceptable technology.
"Disruptive technology" anyone?
Nor-fscking-way???!!
Every asshat that ever said that can go home, shit on a plate, put some mustard on it, maybe a little tabasco on it... but that is the shit sandwitch of words that you must now eat.
I guess i'm saddened that so many people are so convinced that everything every company does is for pure evil. Watching Jobs all these years, its obvious that
a) he doesn't need the money. Seriously.
b) he's got a track record of being straight with people.
for instance... when they opened the iTMS in Europe, he said on stage "we wanted to do a single Euro Store, but the copyright holders said no" - and then recently, all the Euros piled on Apple for making it impossible for Belgins to buy songs from the UK Music store.. apple said, again "no, we wanted a single Euro Store - blame the music companies"... and everyone said Apple was lying.
Well, about a week later, all the music companies came out and said "yeah, pretty much, Euro customers can get fucked, cause we're the ones not letting apple sell the English songs on the French Music Store page... now smeg off, its our content".... and all has gone quiet on the subject.
Now, we all remember Steve saying "DRM doesn't work, but the music companies forced us into this" - and everyone balked - they all said "this is for iPod lock-in. You can't fool us!" And the din only increased after the Music Manifesto.
Well, all of you naysayers... all of you that doubted Apple's honesty can just jam it.
If you will sell your wares without DRM, Apple is happy to oblige. Your arguements are 100% invalidated, and all the blame now rests squarely on the shoulders of the music companies.
guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat.
Funny post, but AAC existed before Apple.g
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Codin
Well, depends on your definition of DRM. Apple's Shake requires activation.. even the demo does.