Reuters: Ailing music biz set to relax digital restrictions

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-02-2007, 04:50 PM

"Ailing music biz set to relax digital restrictions"

This article may be about music, but it's been my belief that the print market has been taking its cues from the music biz in trying to figure out how to sell/deal with e-books (and, for that matter, so have a lot of us). If the article is any indication, DRM may be dealt a serious blow in music, and in e-books, soon.

nekokami · 01-02-2007, 07:34 PM

It's an interesting article, especially this comment about Amazon: "The online retailer reportedly is itching to get into digital downloads but is holding out for a DRM-free service." Too bad Amazon doesn't seem to feel the same way about DRM-free books. I don't see them announcing that they're going to open up Mobipocket Secure files.

This followup comment from another reader was also interesting: "The dirty secret that CNet does not want to tell you is that the only reason some minor players in the space are looking at non-DRM'd alternatives is because Apple will not license their FairPlay DRM and the music crowd is so addicted to iPOds they cannot look past any other solution than selling unencrypted content to iPods."

Bizarre. One popular piece of hardware with overly exclusive DRM encourages non-DRM file use... (maybe, anyway).

Following that logic, if someone (say, for talking purposes, Amazon or ETI) were to release a really kick-butt low-cost reader, but it had only one highly proprietary DRM format on it, it might encourage everyone else to drop the DRM just to be able to be read on that device.

Somehow I don't see the Sony Reader sweeping the market this way. (And I don't think their creation tool is as exclusive as Apple's, is it?)

RWood · 01-02-2007, 11:54 PM

It is the only future for the music industry unless they want to stay under Apple's thumb forever. Then again they could just cut off all digital sales and go back to the 33-1/3 rpm record.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-03-2007, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

Too bad Amazon doesn't seem to feel the same way about DRM-free books. I don't see them announcing that they're going to open up Mobipocket Secure files.

True, but the point to the article (and my posting it here) is that ultimately it may be up to market forces, not Amazon.

I realize there are real differences between both markets, such as the glut of e-book formats. But that, too, could be an advantage... multiple popular formats can prevent one company with a proprietary format and DRM to take control of the market.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-03-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

Then again they could just cut off all digital sales and go back to the 33-1/3 rpm record.

Coming soon: The iPod Close-and-Play!

01-02-2007, 04:50 PM	#1
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Reuters: Ailing music biz set to relax digital restrictions "Ailing music biz set to relax digital restrictions" This article may be about music, but it's been my belief that the print market has been taking its cues from the music biz in trying to figure out how to sell/deal with e-books (and, for that matter, so have a lot of us). If the article is any indication, DRM may be dealt a serious blow in music, and in e-books, soon.

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01-02-2007, 07:34 PM	#2
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	It's an interesting article, especially this comment about Amazon: "The online retailer reportedly is itching to get into digital downloads but is holding out for a DRM-free service." Too bad Amazon doesn't seem to feel the same way about DRM-free books. I don't see them announcing that they're going to open up Mobipocket Secure files. This followup comment from another reader was also interesting: "The dirty secret that CNet does not want to tell you is that the only reason some minor players in the space are looking at non-DRM'd alternatives is because Apple will not license their FairPlay DRM and the music crowd is so addicted to iPOds they cannot look past any other solution than selling unencrypted content to iPods." Bizarre. One popular piece of hardware with overly exclusive DRM encourages non-DRM file use... (maybe, anyway). Following that logic, if someone (say, for talking purposes, Amazon or ETI) were to release a really kick-butt low-cost reader, but it had only one highly proprietary DRM format on it, it might encourage everyone else to drop the DRM just to be able to be read on that device. Somehow I don't see the Sony Reader sweeping the market this way. (And I don't think their creation tool is as exclusive as Apple's, is it?)

01-02-2007, 11:54 PM	#3
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	It is the only future for the music industry unless they want to stay under Apple's thumb forever. Then again they could just cut off all digital sales and go back to the 33-1/3 rpm record.

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