digital music/video
03/23/2006, 10:10pm, EST
Thursday, March 23rd
US backs Apple against French DRM law
The US government is backing Apple's stance on a draft French law that may force the company either to open up its FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) technology in iTunes or pull out of the country. US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez backed angry protests by Apple, saying that companies need to protect their intellectual property: "But any time something like this happens, any time that we believe that intellectual property rights are being violated, we need to speak up and in this case, the company is taking the initiative," Gutierrez said on CNBC. "I would compliment that company because we need for companies to also stand up for their intellectual property rights." The proposed law was passed by the lower house in France, but still needs to be debated and passed in the French Senate. Apple responded to the passing of the draft law, calling it "state-sponsored piracy" and said that if this happens, legal music sales will plummet just when legitimate alternatives to piracy are winning over customer." However, some analysts believe the law may actually increase iPod sales, if Apple opens up its FairPlay DRM.
"If we all do that, have the government work with other governments, have companies defend and protect their own intellectual property, then we'll be able to make more progress on a worldwide basis," Gutierrez said.
Filed under: industry
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Still wondering if burning to CD is enough to be accepted as interoperable in this law. I'm also wondering waht the consequences will be on the renting model that MS uses.
You mean like Google did Mr. Gutierrez?
I have a Tivo and can not play my songs through them because Apple won't allow it. I am not stealing - I just want to play the music I paid for in other systems. People should not be locked playing their music only on Apple products.
Think about it. Would you purchase a CD if would only play on one particular brand of player? It severely limits what you can do with your music.
But, back to the topic, I think that it shows again how I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E it is to make this delirious idea of internet work! At least on the $ side (thing that the net was not build on/for so somehow it might be a fair revenge ;) Anyway, free music, well, go down to your local public library, "rent" your CDs and rip them, et voila! Isn t the result the same? OK, you need cash to host all this stuff etc. And the majors want their $. What about the artists in this deal, I am thinking about all those guys out there who do sharewares, I do use some of them and did give/pay for the ones I use. Those software are born with the net, The industry of mu$ic is a $ machine and never adapt to the net. I beleive that is we could pay a few cents for a track, we would, without looking at it, but we are not in touch with the artist himself. $1 for a track 50% goes to Apple, and 2 cent to the artist. If each band hosted his own music (or had it organised) like the software developpers i mentioned, we would not have to face this problem, + I am convinced that they would have adopted a unique file format!
Et voila! That was my 2 cents, the price of a track! ;o)
C'mon guys, if you don't like what's for sale, just don't buy it. Nobody is forcing you to buy an iPod or songs from iTunes.
This is actually just about an electoral season in France. I'd rather have Apple designing the products and service I use than some politician.
Apple brought you the ability to legally purchase music online, set a reasonable price for the songs and now you complain. Cool, now when the price that you pay for music goes up you will have the French to blame. This sets a bad precedence. If you are not happy with Apple's Business practices do not buy the product. The fact is once again Apple has created a superior product in iPod and iTunes, has changed the way we think and the kids on the short Bus are all confused. You need proof. Would you be complaining if the products sucked?
I got a good Idea, teared pricing. You want your music to play on other devices how about $2.99 per song for you, and $.99 for iPod users.
It is time for us all to accept that music Copyright is already covered by laws internationaly, and music IP is totally bogus.
Music Copyright law is very clear, where DRM generally ignores Copyright laws regarding Fair Use.
So lets make up a bogus word - like intellectual property - and use DRM to elliminate Fair Use and violate the laws to the consumers disadvantage.
Hmmm.
IP??? Lets get your head on straight - *there is no such animal*!!!