Coding Horror: DRM Ignorance is Expensive

codinghorror.com

6 pointsinklesspen5 comments

At the risk of sounding like an Apple fan boy:

"Apple has already taken us quite far down this road"

is really a nasty bit of bait.

Yes, iTunes music is DRM'd. I get it.

But Apple's been really good about dealing with EXACTLY the sort of issue that Atwood is running into. I've transfered songs between many, many computers without any trouble at all.

And I didn't have to pay.

Atwood is generally straightforward and doesn't bait. I think he means exactly what he says - Apple has taken us down this road, and other companies will follow. But just like other companies haven't been able to make products as nice as Apple's, they probably won't make a DRM system as nice either (case in point, XBox Live).

Do you really think that Motorola, Sony, the movies studios, or heaven help us, the RIAA, will pull off a system as nice as the iTunes DRM?

I'd hope that there will always be at least some 'open' devices.

If you want open platforms then don't buy closed platforms.

Yes, at least those LP's and cassette tapes stayed bought.

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