MESSAGE
| DATE | 2009-03-22 |
| FROM | Michael L Richardson
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] DRM is still theft
|
Follow the money!
Read the GUARANTEE: www.paymymortgageearly.com
Ruben Safir wrote:
> piralFrog users can continue to play songs obtained from the now defunct
> company for two more months before they become inaccessible, according
> to a source close to the company.
>
> The ad-supported music service shuttered its Web site late Thursday
> evening and ceased operations, the source told CNET. Some customers of
> the service asked on Friday how long their music, which is wrapped in
> copy-protection software, will continue to play. A source familiar with
> SpiralFrog's operations said the service's digital rights management
> technology, designed to prevent unauthorized copying, will lock up the
> music indefinitely after 60 days. The songs could live again should
> SpiralFrog's assets be acquired and the new owner decide to relaunch the
> service, the source said.
>
> DRM critics will certainly cite this as further proof that the
> technology is anti-consumer. The software remains hugely unpopular among
> many music fans for limiting their ability to play songs on devices of
> their choice. The critics argue that a person never really owns
> DRM-locked music because they need server keys provided by service
> operators to unlock the songs. But Christopher Levy, a vocal proponent
> of the technology and considered one of the leading experts in the
> field, questioned whether customers should be angered about losing music
> they never paid a cent for.
>
> Christopher Levy
> (Credit: BuyDRM)
>
> "(Protecting songs with DRM) was the only way that SpiralFrog could
> offer the model," Levy said. "The record labels refused to go to market
> without it. This was a very good business proposition for consumers.
> They received free music as long as they agreed to be bombarded by
> advertisements...I think it's hard to criticize the company...I think 60
> days is very impressive."
>
> Levy, who owns the company BuyDRM, says consumers deal with DRM every
> day in ways they don't notice. The technology is improving and soon it
> will be even less obtrusive. The technology helps protects the rights of
> content creators, consumers, and technologists, he said.
>
> "When DRM is right in the middle of all three, that is where happiness
> is," Levy said. "Consumers are getting more comfortable with DRM and it
> isn't going away. It may need to change, but it's not going away."
>
> Antipiracy software is used by the film industry and by music
> subscription services, such as Napster and RealNetwork's Rhapsody. But
> in the past year, download sites like Apple's iTunes and Amazon have
> rejected copy-protection software with the blessing of the major record
> companies.
>
> The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday is hosting a conference on the
> use of DRM at the University of Washington School of Law, said Levy, who
> will speak at the gathering.
>
> According to an FTC press release, DRM "is expected to become
> increasingly prevalent in the U.S. marketplace in the coming years" and
> address "the need to improve disclosures to consumers about DRM
> limitations."
>
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