Is a bag of shit. Most phones only implement OMA DRM 1.0 - forward lock. OMA DRM 2 - I doubt it will catch on. How many phones have implemented it and how many content providers are using it?
"......any moron can come up with a high level design......"
Yeah right. There are bad architects as well as bad coders.
What a bullshit statement. I have worked on so many projects where each coder did his bit - and in doiing his bit he is just making it easier for HIMSELF not the project.
In the real world building built without architectural input are often not fit for purpose.
The same for code. Whatever your experience, having worked in large scale projects for the last 17 years, leaving a coder to just code is a receipe for disaster.
Once you have more than a couple of coders, some principles are required. Architectural principles.
Having worked on several projects involving loading LOTS of digital content I can tell you getting a good working process can be problematical. Since iTunes is not a huge profit center I very much doubt that it would be cost effective to have a dual stream content loading process. I suspect that they can barely cope with uploading what they have now. They built a workstream and their partners know it and it works.
Sometimes the real answer is not one of evil but of expediency. Exactly what percentage of small labels would demand no DRM? 5%?
Sure you can watch what people do but often if you have no context you have no understanding of why they do what they do.
Of course it is just easy to believe that one's opnions are infallible. I would rather understand WHY people do what they do and when I understand it then I can judge.
"..... therefore give people permission to do things with those works that are prohibited by the laws of the countries that they live in......"
In this case you agree there is no hram to the consumer because if they have a CD - by law the music stays on the CD. If they have iTunes it stays on the Computer or iPod.
"...However, is 2/3 market share really a monopoly?....."
Apple do not 2/3 of the Music business. They have a large percentage of a single format that music is delivered in. Digitial at best is 10% of the music business.
"....and it is they, not as you claim, the labels, who people like Apple have to negotiate with in order to sell content in a particular European country....."
in all your blathering an irrelevent quoting you have missed an essential point. Music has several components of licensing. What you are alluding to is the licensing of the music - not the licensing of the sound recording. If Apple wanted to rerecord Michal Jacksons "Beat It" they would have to license the music and then hire a band to record the music and then release.
Hpwever Apple have no interest in recording covers. Apple wan to sell sound recording of Music. The labels still control the license to the sound recording. To sell am MP3 released on Blue Note Records you still need an agreement with Blue Note records.
If Apple wanted to Stream Audio - then this is a public performance of Music ( maybe - this decision is up for grabs.......) these independent rights organizations collect the royalties due for the recital of the underlying music that forms the basis of the sound recording.
You need to study how the music licensing music business works.
".....digital music services wishing to license Warner/Chappell's library of musical compositions....."
Now is this quote covering the SOUND RECORDING or the musical composition? There is a difference.
You quote what collecting societies do. Apple does not sell or record lyrics or musicial compositions. They sell sound recordings which are licensed differently. So you research is irrelevent to my point. Apple had to negotiate with each label in each country to sell sound recordings..
I can see that perhaps before accusing people of talking out your ass you read a bit further. If I am talking out my ass you must be reading via yours.
What I find amusing is this: Microsoft always bleat about innovation while sitting on a true monopoly. Apple came late the digital player market and actually did some real innovation. Now these ass hats want publicity and label Apple as the bad guy.
The reality is this. This is a statement by an Ombudsmen who can refer the case to court. Apple will not cave on this I believe and they will go to court and I suspect they will will.
Norwegian Prosecuter: This is bad - the consummer is harmed
Apple lawyer shill: Judge here is a list of the global shops that also sell music that will play in iTunes. Here is an unlocked MP3 I burned on a CD - and watch now I am transferring this MUSIC file to any player that supports MP3. Here is a sample of the contract with the various labels where they demand we use DRM. Here is a report detailing the lack of standards in DRM. Here is a report detailing how Apple did not create this fucking mess in the licensing and protection of Music.
Judge: Not Guilty. ( aside - what a complete fucking waste of time....)
I mean - how exactly is the consumer harmed? If he buys from iTunes he has the right to transfer the file to any system - JUST LIKE A CD. In both cases the consumer must be savvy enough to rip the files off the CDROM. No one is complaining a consumer is harmed because CDROMS do not actually ship encoded MP3's....( Shock horror.....the evil CD's can do to a consumer )
"....provide DRMed music that plays on an iPod is that Apple won't let them....."
Ahem.....no. Apple cannot stop a third party developing a client for DRM that can be loaded onto the iPod. Linux runs on an iPod - why not third party DRM.
Apple have developed their own solution for DRM. Apple have developede their own solution to allow a PC/Mac Application to download music and sync to the mac.
Their are many third party iPod sync utilities - I have used several to take stuff off my iPod.
So there is really NOTHING stopping a third party solution which can download any music from any store and sync to the iPod.
If Apple are forced to share their shop with competition ( after all their shop exists ONLY to enhance the iPod experience ) I want to be able to license the Walmart business process.
We are all confused here today about the bounds of legitimate competition.
"....That's not strictly true. At the moment, music distributors have exclusive deals to represent performers....."
Agreed. I understand that. It amazes me that no one bleats about the underlying monopoly called copyright. But de facto - for the end user or purchaser or the music it is irrelevent given that there are many many competing outlets for EMI music etc.
The day that there is a global compulsory license for sound recordings as well as the underlying music and lyrics is the day the music business might actually start to grow rapidly.
The artist can have his cake and eat it.
meanwhile back to red flag waving about a non-issue.
Again YOU have missed the point. The subject is any track of music. I can buy Track or Album xxx anywhere. End of story. I cannot demand if I buy an album that Virgin must recreate the shopping experience of FNAC. You are all are trying so hard to belabour a moot point. The consumer is not harmed in any functional way by buying from iTunes. If he is too LAZY or stupid to burn his MP3, then sorry he is JUST STUPID. You cannot legistlate away human stupidity.
Apple offer a unique BUYING experience which is tied to their iPod. This is not illegal.
"....Some_ music must be licensed in each and every country, because each country has its own copyright laws...."
You display complete ignorance about music licensing. You have to do this because the label (who owns the copyright) demands it. The UK is now offering to publish music under a one stop EU service - so that a license can e granted EU wide. This was only announced this month.
It has nothing to do with copyright laws differing. it has to do with the arcane nature of music publishing.
"... they can make the Norwegian iTunes store comply with Norwegian law...."
And what Law is that? I very much doubt in the end anyone will find Apple is breaking any laws. A political statement of intent often has no merits in a court of law.
Is there a Law against devising a unique shoppng method?
Is there a Law against success?
Can some of you so wise men pontificating outline under what Law Apple is in breach?
".....Considering that both RIAA and the DMCA are completely irellevant for Normway..."
Of course it is not irrelevent. Apple must license the music. The labels in Norway are subservient to what happens in London and LA. Is EMI Norway going to go against teh parent company and issue more liberal licenses? No way!
Why is no one screaming about the fact that the root of all this is this:
Copryright is a MONOPOLY. All actions downstream are there to prop up this monopoly. Hey, either all monopolies are bad or........
Music labels - having rights to a monopoly market, screw everyone and force their terms, one of which is one cannot buy a global license to music. One has to license every song country by country.
Perhaps this does consumers more harm than iTunes? iTunes is the last in the value stream bar the consumer. All the shit comes from the top of the stream.
This thread is interestining in listening to stupidity and ignorance about the real state of the music business.
Norway is possibly being strong armed by the local arms of each label because the labels hate iTunes. They do not want to loose control of the music business. They like having a monopoly.
Perhaps there is more going on than meets the eye.
"... ripping it to an unencumbered mp3 format is not an acceptable solution....."
Acceptable to you. I myself find it fine. I have a problem with DRM but I am smart enough to see the problem is with the Music business as a whole and Apple are just following the desires of the Recording industry.
There is no law that says everything must be acceptable to you. The reality is that there is no lock in, perhaps a little inconvienence. Perhaps when you can have music streamed to your mind with no device you will be pleased. Meanwhile putting a CD with a scratch into a player is inconvienent. Life is full of imperfections an inconvieniences.
Most people here are pointing out that DRM is bad, but Apple have the less bad solution and are pointing out that yes there is no lock in - irrespective of you rdesires for a perfect solution. The key fact that there is a solution. If you are too stupid to use that solution do not buy an iPod. Do not shop at itunes.
In essence what everyone is saying is Apple has a monopoly on their store. As do Walmart as do Marks and Spensers etc etc etc.
I can buy music anywhere. I can only get the iTunes experience from iTunes. I can buy milk anywhere. I can only get the Walmart experience at Walmart. Walmart have a monoploy on their shoppiing experience.
Over and over - I will repeat - Music is the target. Where can I buy music for my iPod? Everywhere? Essentially - yes. What percentage of iPods have 100% iTunes purchased music? zero. What percentage of iPods were forced to buy music from iTunes? zero. How many iPods have MORE music from iTunes than from other sources? A tiny fraction I am sure.
Is there a point in all these bleatings? There is no monopoly. Should Gucci be forced to license their shops?
On my iPod I have 400 non-iPod albums and 10 iTunes albums. is this an indicator of a monopoly?
"....Europe is simply angry about there being important songs that can be gotten only on iTunes with iTunes Fairplay on them...."
What bullshit. The music itself is in essence a monopoly. I can only Buy EMI music via EMI outlets or whomever EMI decide to license to.
A cetain percentage of music is available in market A but not market B because of the way labels license their music. Music must be licensed in each and every country.
Europe never got angry about this. Try getting a license to sell one cover track in all EU countries. Nightmare.
Europe is getting confused and hysterical about a non issue.
Re:Apple "forces" hardware upgrades to keep music?
on
Norway Outlaws iTunes
·
· Score: 1
".....Removing the Fairplay creates trouble, esp. given that CD burners sometimes produce coasters....."
What bullshit. Apple keep in ITunes a playlist of purchased Music. Select it - pop in media - burn. Now copy where you want - complete with track names.
It Just Works. Are you a troll? Have you tried this?
Another slant. I have 400 CD's - my house burns down. What recourse do I have? Nada? Of course. Am I bleating? No. Shit happens.
With Apple, you can back up your iTunes on 5 computers with out stripping the DRM and unlimited if you first burn to a CD.
DRM sucks but Apple DRM sucks least.
Go bitch at the record companies who demanded DRM without making the effort to make DRM interoperate.
".....Legally enforceable monopolies should be illegal......."
Smack my head. There is no monopoly. Digital Music is 10% of the music market. Apple has 70-80% of that 10% ( maybe ). on All iPods around the world I DOUBT that even 5% of the music on those iPods came as a digital download. Buying from iTunes is ONE and only one method to add music to an iPod. It might be the easiest - but this method was CRAFTED by Apple so that they can compete freely in the Music market. Any other vendor has the same opportunities to have a shop. The only limitation is that Apple DRM only works with iTunes and iPods. But that is NOT a market limitation. the iPod will allow music to be added by other means. It will play varous formats.
I can freely buy music anywhere. There are so many choices in where to buy music for my iPod.
There is NOTHING resembling a monopoly.
You are implying then..... Ford are a monopoly because you can only buy a Ford from Ford. is this true? No because the item is a car. You can buy a car from anywhere. Thus with iTunes and Apple. You can buy music anywhere. Music is the issue - all the rest is a delivery mechanism. Honda cannot use the Ford delivery mechanism to the market, they must have their own dealers, their own delivery trucks, their own system.
There is NO MONOPOLY by Apple on the access to Music. Duh! You need to read up on what a monopoly is.
Wrong example. You can buy Music anywhere. No iPod owner is forced to use the iTunes shop. There is NO LIMITATION on iPod owners sourcing Music. 95% of my Music is NOT from the iTunes shop.
Jeez - I just bought an Xbox game in Norway - I want to play thos game on my Mac and my Wii I cannot. I DEMAND that Norway make ALL software run on all platforms.
I Just paid for a new license for IBM's mainframe OS. I cannot run it on my Mac. I DEMAND that Norway make ALL software run on all platforms.
I just bought Microsoft Visio. I cannot run it on my Mac. I DEMAND that Norway make ALL software run on all platforms.
Lets consider this. In all cases such as above - I cannot convert the media from one platform to the other.
Yet with iTunes purchased music I can convert to MP3 and play on any platform. I can convert quite easily.
With iTunes any song I find there I can buy anywhere else in the world. There is no problem with someone who has a non iPod to get Music.
iTunes is a free utility for iPod owners to allow them easy access to the music that other music player can also access via other stores. The free utility runs on macs and pc's.
Must the Apple stores in Norway now be forced to sell Windows software and Vista?
The iindustry in the case of DVD's etc joined together and made standards for encryption etc.
The Music industry refused to standardize on a solution, yet made demands that resellers of their catalogue use DRM.
"....Windows doesn't limit what hardware you can run it on....."
What shite. I have a Power PC that will not run Windows.
Lets try thos sentence:
"Norway has outlawed Wii because you don't have the choice of what hardware from what company to listen to it on. It's Wii players only"
Norway has outlawed Xbox because you don't have the choice of what hardware from what company to listen to it on. It's Microsoft's players only"
Duh!
iTunes is a specific utility for a specific device.
Go fucking buy music wherever you want and stop bleating.
It is about Music not iTunes. iTunes is also a shop. Walmart is never going to be forced to allow KMart to use it's retail systems. You can only get the Walmart purchase experience in walmart. You cabn only get the Apple experience in iTunes.
You can get Corn Flakes anywhere. You can get Music Anywhere. There is no restriction.
I have 400 Cd's - I have about 20 iTunes digital albums. I doublt that many people have much more that that. In any case I myself have never had the need to transfer them, but if I needed to it is not difficult.
WHo out there has 400 iTunes albums? Very Very few people I would imagine.
Surely it is the job of the RIAA/Record labels to define an open DRM standard. After all they are the ones who demand DRM. Apple did not demand DRM on their own. Of course DRM suits Apple to tie users lightly into the iPod.
In any case, no user is actually tied - just burn a playlist on to a CD and copy the MP3's to any device.
Should Wallmart be forced to allow K-Mart to sell goods via the Wallmart checkout systems?
Slashdot Mirror
Is a bag of shit. Most phones only implement OMA DRM 1.0 - forward lock. OMA DRM 2 - I doubt it will catch on. How many phones have implemented it and how many content providers are using it?
"......any moron can come up with a high level design ......"
Yeah right. There are bad architects as well as bad coders.
What a bullshit statement. I have worked on so many projects where each coder did his bit - and in doiing his bit he is just making it easier for HIMSELF not the project.
In the real world building built without architectural input are often not fit for purpose.
The same for code. Whatever your experience, having worked in large scale projects for the last 17 years, leaving a coder to just code is a receipe for disaster.
Once you have more than a couple of coders, some principles are required. Architectural principles.
Having worked on several projects involving loading LOTS of digital content I can tell you getting a good working process can be problematical. Since iTunes is not a huge profit center I very much doubt that it would be cost effective to have a dual stream content loading process. I suspect that they can barely cope with uploading what they have now. They built a workstream and their partners know it and it works.
Sometimes the real answer is not one of evil but of expediency. Exactly what percentage of small labels would demand no DRM? 5%?
Sure you can watch what people do but often if you have no context you have no understanding of why they do what they do.
Of course it is just easy to believe that one's opnions are infallible. I would rather understand WHY people do what they do and when I understand it then I can judge.
"..... therefore give people permission to do things with those works that are prohibited by the laws of the countries that they live in......"
In this case you agree there is no hram to the consumer because if they have a CD - by law the music stays on the CD. If they have iTunes it stays on the Computer or iPod.
Is there a point to your comment?
"...However, is 2/3 market share really a monopoly?....."
Apple do not 2/3 of the Music business. They have a large percentage of a single format that music is delivered in. Digitial at best is 10% of the music business.
"....and it is they, not as you claim, the labels, who people like Apple have to negotiate with in order to sell content in a particular European country....."
in all your blathering an irrelevent quoting you have missed an essential point. Music has several components of licensing. What you are alluding to is the licensing of the music - not the licensing of the sound recording. If Apple wanted to rerecord Michal Jacksons "Beat It" they would have to license the music and then hire a band to record the music and then release.
Hpwever Apple have no interest in recording covers. Apple wan to sell sound recording of Music. The labels still control the license to the sound recording. To sell am MP3 released on Blue Note Records you still need an agreement with Blue Note records.
If Apple wanted to Stream Audio - then this is a public performance of Music ( maybe - this decision is up for grabs.......) these independent rights organizations collect the royalties due for the recital of the underlying music that forms the basis of the sound recording.
You need to study how the music licensing music business works.
".....digital music services wishing to license Warner/Chappell's library of musical compositions....."
Now is this quote covering the SOUND RECORDING or the musical composition? There is a difference.
You quote what collecting societies do. Apple does not sell or record lyrics or musicial compositions. They sell sound recordings which are licensed differently. So you research is irrelevent to my point. Apple had to negotiate with each label in each country to sell sound recordings..
I can see that perhaps before accusing people of talking out your ass you read a bit further. If I am talking out my ass you must be reading via yours.
"..... The iTune is not an open format, because they will only play on Apple players......"
..... are .......not .......locked......in.
But....so what. Apple allows you to convert to MP3 with very little restriction - in effect - no restrictions.
So listen carefully......you
Is there an open format for DRM for music? OMA DRM 1.0/2.0 for phones. Nothing open for PC's or Mac's.
What I find amusing is this: Microsoft always bleat about innovation while sitting on a true monopoly. Apple came late the digital player market and actually did some real innovation. Now these ass hats want publicity and label Apple as the bad guy.
....)
The reality is this. This is a statement by an Ombudsmen who can refer the case to court. Apple will not cave on this I believe and they will go to court and I suspect they will will.
Norwegian Prosecuter: This is bad - the consummer is harmed
Apple lawyer shill: Judge here is a list of the global shops that also sell music that will play in iTunes. Here is an unlocked MP3 I burned on a CD - and watch now I am transferring this MUSIC file to any player that supports MP3. Here is a sample of the contract with the various labels where they demand we use DRM. Here is a report detailing the lack of standards in DRM. Here is a report detailing how Apple did not create this fucking mess in the licensing and protection of Music.
Judge: Not Guilty. ( aside - what a complete fucking waste of time
I mean - how exactly is the consumer harmed? If he buys from iTunes he has the right to transfer the file to any system - JUST LIKE A CD. In both cases the consumer must be savvy enough to rip the files off the CDROM. No one is complaining a consumer is harmed because CDROMS do not actually ship encoded MP3's....( Shock horror.....the evil CD's can do to a consumer )
"....This at least voids your warranty......"
Does it? Can we have some fact checking here? Opening the iPod voids the warranty perhaps.
Perhaps this is true - I am not sure. But in any case - they have the right to dictate the terms for the warrenty.
In any case - Apple would not support an iPod with third party software. And most people want support. Most people buy iPods because they JUST WORK.
The Major Labels are NOT Norwegian. What US labels dictate goes for Norway for terms of licensing.
If indeed Apple is breaking a law - what law?
Common you arm chair experts - what specific law is Apple breaking?
"....provide DRMed music that plays on an iPod is that Apple won't let them....."
.....no. Apple cannot stop a third party developing a client for DRM that can be loaded onto the iPod. Linux runs on an iPod - why not third party DRM.
Ahem
Apple have developed their own solution for DRM. Apple have developede their own solution to allow a PC/Mac Application to download music and sync to the mac.
Their are many third party iPod sync utilities - I have used several to take stuff off my iPod.
So there is really NOTHING stopping a third party solution which can download any music from any store and sync to the iPod.
If Apple are forced to share their shop with competition ( after all their shop exists ONLY to enhance the iPod experience ) I want to be able to license the Walmart business process.
We are all confused here today about the bounds of legitimate competition.
"....That's not strictly true. At the moment, music distributors have exclusive deals to represent performers....."
Agreed. I understand that. It amazes me that no one bleats about the underlying monopoly called copyright. But de facto - for the end user or purchaser or the music it is irrelevent given that there are many many competing outlets for EMI music etc.
The day that there is a global compulsory license for sound recordings as well as the underlying music and lyrics is the day the music business might actually start to grow rapidly.
The artist can have his cake and eat it.
meanwhile back to red flag waving about a non-issue.
".....misses the point......"
...."
...."
Again YOU have missed the point. The subject is any track of music. I can buy Track or Album xxx anywhere. End of story. I cannot demand if I buy an album that Virgin must recreate the shopping experience of FNAC. You are all are trying so hard to belabour a moot point. The consumer is not harmed in any functional way by buying from iTunes. If he is too LAZY or stupid to burn his MP3, then sorry he is JUST STUPID. You cannot legistlate away human stupidity.
Apple offer a unique BUYING experience which is tied to their iPod. This is not illegal.
"....Some_ music must be licensed in each and every country, because each country has its own copyright laws
You display complete ignorance about music licensing. You have to do this because the label (who owns the copyright) demands it. The UK is now offering to publish music under a one stop EU service - so that a license can e granted EU wide. This was only announced this month.
It has nothing to do with copyright laws differing. it has to do with the arcane nature of music publishing.
"... they can make the Norwegian iTunes store comply with Norwegian law
And what Law is that? I very much doubt in the end anyone will find Apple is breaking any laws. A political statement of intent often has no merits in a court of law.
Is there a Law against devising a unique shoppng method?
Is there a Law against success?
Can some of you so wise men pontificating outline under what Law Apple is in breach?
".....Considering that both RIAA and the DMCA are completely irellevant for Normway..."
........
Of course it is not irrelevent. Apple must license the music. The labels in Norway are subservient to what happens in London and LA. Is EMI Norway going to go against teh parent company and issue more liberal licenses? No way!
Why is no one screaming about the fact that the root of all this is this:
Copryright is a MONOPOLY. All actions downstream are there to prop up this monopoly. Hey, either all monopolies are bad or
Music labels - having rights to a monopoly market, screw everyone and force their terms, one of which is one cannot buy a global license to music. One has to license every song country by country.
Perhaps this does consumers more harm than iTunes? iTunes is the last in the value stream bar the consumer. All the shit comes from the top of the stream.
This thread is interestining in listening to stupidity and ignorance about the real state of the music business.
Norway is possibly being strong armed by the local arms of each label because the labels hate iTunes. They do not want to loose control of the music business. They like having a monopoly.
Perhaps there is more going on than meets the eye.
"... ripping it to an unencumbered mp3 format is not an acceptable solution....."
Acceptable to you. I myself find it fine. I have a problem with DRM but I am smart enough to see the problem is with the Music business as a whole and Apple are just following the desires of the Recording industry.
There is no law that says everything must be acceptable to you. The reality is that there is no lock in, perhaps a little inconvienence. Perhaps when you can have music streamed to your mind with no device you will be pleased. Meanwhile putting a CD with a scratch into a player is inconvienent. Life is full of imperfections an inconvieniences.
Most people here are pointing out that DRM is bad, but Apple have the less bad solution and are pointing out that yes there is no lock in - irrespective of you rdesires for a perfect solution. The key fact that there is a solution. If you are too stupid to use that solution do not buy an iPod. Do not shop at itunes.
In essence what everyone is saying is Apple has a monopoly on their store. As do Walmart as do Marks and Spensers etc etc etc.
I can buy music anywhere. I can only get the iTunes experience from iTunes. I can buy milk anywhere. I can only get the Walmart experience at Walmart. Walmart have a monoploy on their shoppiing experience.
Over and over - I will repeat - Music is the target. Where can I buy music for my iPod? Everywhere? Essentially - yes. What percentage of iPods have 100% iTunes purchased music? zero. What percentage of iPods were forced to buy music from iTunes? zero. How many iPods have MORE music from iTunes than from other sources? A tiny fraction I am sure.
Is there a point in all these bleatings? There is no monopoly. Should Gucci be forced to license their shops?
On my iPod I have 400 non-iPod albums and 10 iTunes albums. is this an indicator of a monopoly?
"....Europe is simply angry about there being important songs that can be gotten only on iTunes with iTunes Fairplay on them...."
What bullshit. The music itself is in essence a monopoly. I can only Buy EMI music via EMI outlets or whomever EMI decide to license to.
A cetain percentage of music is available in market A but not market B because of the way labels license their music. Music must be licensed in each and every country.
Europe never got angry about this. Try getting a license to sell one cover track in all EU countries. Nightmare.
Europe is getting confused and hysterical about a non issue.
".....Removing the Fairplay creates trouble, esp. given that CD burners sometimes produce coasters....."
What bullshit. Apple keep in ITunes a playlist of purchased Music. Select it - pop in media - burn. Now copy where you want - complete with track names.
It Just Works. Are you a troll? Have you tried this?
Another slant. I have 400 CD's - my house burns down. What recourse do I have? Nada? Of course. Am I bleating? No. Shit happens.
With Apple, you can back up your iTunes on 5 computers with out stripping the DRM and unlimited if you first burn to a CD.
DRM sucks but Apple DRM sucks least.
Go bitch at the record companies who demanded DRM without making the effort to make DRM interoperate.
".....Legally enforceable monopolies should be illegal......."
..... Ford are a monopoly because you can only buy a Ford from Ford. is this true? No because the item is a car. You can buy a car from anywhere. Thus with iTunes and Apple. You can buy music anywhere. Music is the issue - all the rest is a delivery mechanism. Honda cannot use the Ford delivery mechanism to the market, they must have their own dealers, their own delivery trucks, their own system.
Smack my head. There is no monopoly. Digital Music is 10% of the music market. Apple has 70-80% of that 10% ( maybe ). on All iPods around the world I DOUBT that even 5% of the music on those iPods came as a digital download. Buying from iTunes is ONE and only one method to add music to an iPod. It might be the easiest - but this method was CRAFTED by Apple so that they can compete freely in the Music market. Any other vendor has the same opportunities to have a shop. The only limitation is that Apple DRM only works with iTunes and iPods. But that is NOT a market limitation. the iPod will allow music to be added by other means. It will play varous formats.
I can freely buy music anywhere. There are so many choices in where to buy music for my iPod.
There is NOTHING resembling a monopoly.
You are implying then
There is NO MONOPOLY by Apple on the access to Music. Duh! You need to read up on what a monopoly is.
Wrong example. You can buy Music anywhere. No iPod owner is forced to use the iTunes shop. There is NO LIMITATION on iPod owners sourcing Music. 95% of my Music is NOT from the iTunes shop.
Jeez - I just bought an Xbox game in Norway - I want to play thos game on my Mac and my Wii I cannot. I DEMAND that Norway make ALL software run on all platforms.
I Just paid for a new license for IBM's mainframe OS. I cannot run it on my Mac. I DEMAND that Norway make ALL software run on all platforms.
I just bought Microsoft Visio. I cannot run it on my Mac. I DEMAND that Norway make ALL software run on all platforms.
Lets consider this. In all cases such as above - I cannot convert the media from one platform to the other.
Yet with iTunes purchased music I can convert to MP3 and play on any platform. I can convert quite easily.
With iTunes any song I find there I can buy anywhere else in the world. There is no problem with someone who has a non iPod to get Music.
iTunes is a free utility for iPod owners to allow them easy access to the music that other music player can also access via other stores. The free utility runs on macs and pc's.
Must the Apple stores in Norway now be forced to sell Windows software and Vista?
The iindustry in the case of DVD's etc joined together and made standards for encryption etc.
The Music industry refused to standardize on a solution, yet made demands that resellers of their catalogue use DRM.
"....Windows doesn't limit what hardware you can run it on....."
What shite. I have a Power PC that will not run Windows.
Lets try thos sentence:
"Norway has outlawed Wii because you don't have the choice of what hardware from what company to listen to it on. It's Wii players only"
Norway has outlawed Xbox because you don't have the choice of what hardware from what company to listen to it on. It's Microsoft's players only"
Duh!
iTunes is a specific utility for a specific device.
Go fucking buy music wherever you want and stop bleating.
It is about Music not iTunes. iTunes is also a shop. Walmart is never going to be forced to allow KMart to use it's retail systems. You can only get the Walmart purchase experience in walmart. You cabn only get the Apple experience in iTunes.
You can get Corn Flakes anywhere. You can get Music Anywhere. There is no restriction.
This while issue is shite.
The product people are competing with is Music. Apple do not stop anyone buying the SAME music they sell anywhere.
I can only buy Windows from Microsoft.
I can buy the Spice Girls from anyone.
Where is the problem with competition?
And if you need to move your music - you can. As I said. Try moving your music from a Sony with ATRAC. No one was bitching about Sony.
Should Wal Mart be forced to open their business practices to K Mart because they are successful?
There is no problem here of competition whatsoever.
Music is the product and you can refuse to buy from Apple - you can buy anywhere. But wait....people are happy to buy.
Like DUH - I have loads of CD's - I am fucking locked into them - I cannot transfer them to DVD disks easily.
This is just some "lets sue someone shite" or perhaps "Apple are doing big business with music - they must be evil"
ALL PRODUCTS are made to destroy the competition.
In any case - competing Music Stores can sell MP3's or M4a's or whatever - it runs on an iPod - IF THEY COULD.
Oh - but I forgot - the RIAA etc command that one must use DRM. So go sue the RIAA for creating this mess via mandating DRM.
IT IS NOT APPLE INC'S JOB TO FIX THE MUSIC BUSINESS.
Best tell the OMA ( Open Mobile Alliance ) about their Open DRM - in use today on phones.
/ drm_v2_0.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OMA_DRM
http://www.openmobilealliance.org/release_program
DRM must not always be a trade secret. DRM needs to defeat Joe Ordinary.
I have 400 Cd's - I have about 20 iTunes digital albums. I doublt that many people have much more that that. In any case I myself have never had the need to transfer them, but if I needed to it is not difficult.
WHo out there has 400 iTunes albums? Very Very few people I would imagine.
Surely it is the job of the RIAA/Record labels to define an open DRM standard. After all they are the ones who demand DRM. Apple did not demand DRM on their own. Of course DRM suits Apple to tie users lightly into the iPod.
In any case, no user is actually tied - just burn a playlist on to a CD and copy the MP3's to any device.
Should Wallmart be forced to allow K-Mart to sell goods via the Wallmart checkout systems?