I might have been less than impressed with the iPhone, and not much tempted to buy an iPod, either, but there’s no denying the success of Apple computers and laptops, and I maintain that they are very wise purchases. That being said, this latest stand on DRM and the forethought, sobriety, and plain old common sense with which it is made rates Jobs of Apple in very high standing with this critic.
DRM (Digital Rights Management) has been thrust upon our society primarily by large recording companies like Sony BMG and Universal with other members of the RIAA. The EFF has posted details about how uncompetitive DRM makes the industry and how uncompromising it is to the consumer.
In his most recent public statement, Jobs is taking a stand with consumers in stating that “…DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy.” He drives his point home about the futility of DRM and its negative impact by stating “So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.”
What makes Jobs so admirable to me in this case is that he’s willing to make this public stand regardless that he makes proprietary products to support DRM requirements. Many, including me, have assumed that his hesitance to say anything like this previously implied support of DRM. It is refreshing to see someone like Jobs, who arguably benefits much from DRM with his current product line, step outside the box and see how much more profit there is in defending the consumer against such limitations.
Bravo, Mr. Jobs.
