DRM May Mean Strange Anti-Apple Bedfellows

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DRM May Mean Strange Anti-Apple Bedfellows
By Larry Dignan
2006-10-03

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Opinion: It's hunting season on Apple's iTunes and iPod juggernaut. That may make for some strange bedfellows.

Digital rights management conflicts could make for some strange bedfellows as hunting season opens on Apple and its iTunes juggernaut.

As eWEEK's Peter Galli reports, the Free Software Foundation is planning to protest DRM software, which restricts how and where content can be played, at Apple stores in New York and London Oct. 3. And while the FSF is officially ranting about DRM and its use by "big media," it's no coincidence that Apple is the first target. Apple essentially owns the music industry right now, and a lot of folks aren't happy about it. Apple has used its iTunes and iPod juggernaut to make its DRM software ubiquitous.

Let's recap all the folks worried about Apple's growing clout:

The FSF, which is against DRM overall and would love to wipe those pesky copyright protection schemes off the planet. The chances are slim that the FSF will be successful, but if it makes enough noise it could highlight the issue. Somehow I doubt there will be streets closed off in front of Apple stores today because of thousands of protesters.

Microsoft, which is so threatened by Apple's potential to dominate DRM that it is launching its Zune player in an attempt to put a dent into Steve Jobs & Co.'s momentum. Why is Apple getting into designing hardware and worrying about the so-called "customer experience"? Hint: It ain't the consumer. Zune is all about Microsoft's own DRM software. It can't allow Apple to become the standard.

Click here to read more details about Microsoft's Zune.

The music industry. Apple dictates terms to the music industry. Sure the industry can tell Jobs that it would like flexible pricing, but that idea doesn't get too far. The industry would probably like to offer subscription plans too. Jobs doesn't like that plan though. So the music industry grudgingly goes along, since it has no choice. Don't be surprised if the music industry rallies behind Zune just to counterbalance Apple.

Could those aforementioned Apple worrywarts join forces? Anything is possible. To be sure, you're not going to see Microsoft fans rallying with the FSF gang outside Apple stores today. But there are some possible strange bedfellows.

To wit:

Microsoft could ultimately come around to the FSF position. There are sites such as e-Music that sell tunes without DRM (mostly from independent labels). Let's assume Zune flops and Apple owns DRM. It's possible Microsoft would say DRM is evil. It sees the light. If Microsoft couldn't own the standard, why wouldn't the company undercut it? Suddenly the FSF and Redmond folks are on the same side.

The music industry and the FSF could actually agree. On July 19, Sony BMG and Yahoo offered a new Jessica Simpson single for $1.99 without DRM restrictions. Instead of DRM, the song was personalized with the buyer's name. Yahoo has been an outspoken critic of DRM. The big takeaway: The music industry is open to experimentation. Why? There are other business models to explore and the industry can't let Apple dominate.

These developments won't happen overnight, but don't rule them out. Apple's potential to dictate the DRM game has a lot of people worried. Don't be surprised if some of these combatants wind up on the same side.

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