Comments on: Jobs Denounces DRM while BBC Embraces it? http://www.torgo.com/blog/2007/02/jobs-denounces-drm-while-bbc-embraces-it.html Musings on technology, the Web, mobility and beyond Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:45:51 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Scott Hughes http://www.torgo.com/blog/2007/02/jobs-denounces-drm-while-bbc-embraces-it.html/comment-page-1#comment-2347 Scott Hughes Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:09:40 +0000 http://www.torgo.com/blog/2007/02/jobs-denounces-drm-while-bbc-embraces-it.html#comment-2347 I don't think it's Jobs that is responsible for the DRM the envelopes the iTunes Store. It's pretty obvious that there is no way the Music Companies would have allowed Apple access to their catalogue with DRM and it's a wonder that it's as loose as it is when you look at previous efforts (remember the Sony attempt where it could only exist as one file at a time, to play it on your portable you had to 'check it out' from your computer!). It also seems obvious that they are are that while great for publicity the iTunes Store isn't that relevant to general purchasing habits. Yes it's great for the occasional track but most people will buy the CD. My favourite Music Company DRM story is the fact that some tracks from 'the Big Four' won't even work with the Zune's Social music sharing, obviously 3 plays for free is just too radical Despite that I do think that, for Music we are seeing the start of the end of DRM, people are seeing that it is harming sales and starting to irritate people and it's the Music Companies that are saying this. But, I don't see DRM disappearing for video content. I think that it has it's place and I think this is down to the way that we consume these differently. I listen to music constantly so when I buy a track I want it forever. Video on the other hand I'm prepared to rent, occasionally buy but I don't tend to watch stuff forever. Because of this I think we will see DRM in the iTunes Store for the foreseeable future and we will get our BBC content DRMed. If the BBC do go DRM based I really do hope that it is not MS based, it just has to be Open Platform based. The BBC is a public service company and that service should be open to all. One point that is worth adding to the mix, the BBC normally restricts content to the UK only (we are the ones that pay the licence fee after all!) I wonder how this will be handled. I don’t think it’s Jobs that is responsible for the DRM the envelopes the iTunes Store. It’s pretty obvious that there is no way the Music Companies would have allowed Apple access to their catalogue with DRM and it’s a wonder that it’s as loose as it is when you look at previous efforts (remember the Sony attempt where it could only exist as one file at a time, to play it on your portable you had to ‘check it out’ from your computer!). It also seems obvious that they are are that while great for publicity the iTunes Store isn’t that relevant to general purchasing habits. Yes it’s great for the occasional track but most people will buy the CD.

My favourite Music Company DRM story is the fact that some tracks from ‘the Big Four’ won’t even work with the Zune’s Social music sharing, obviously 3 plays for free is just too radical

Despite that I do think that, for Music we are seeing the start of the end of DRM, people are seeing that it is harming sales and starting to irritate people and it’s the Music Companies that are saying this. But, I don’t see DRM disappearing for video content. I think that it has it’s place and I think this is down to the way that we consume these differently. I listen to music constantly so when I buy a track I want it forever. Video on the other hand I’m prepared to rent, occasionally buy but I don’t tend to watch stuff forever.

Because of this I think we will see DRM in the iTunes Store for the foreseeable future and we will get our BBC content DRMed. If the BBC do go DRM based I really do hope that it is not MS based, it just has to be Open Platform based. The BBC is a public service company and that service should be open to all. One point that is worth adding to the mix, the BBC normally restricts content to the UK only (we are the ones that pay the licence fee after all!) I wonder how this will be handled.

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