Thoughts on Music
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Thoughts on Music is an open letter written by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc. Published on February 6, 2007, it concerns the history and future of digital rights management software (commonly referred to as "DRM".) It was particularly noteworthy and gained much attention in the media for its disclosure that Apple would like to sell music in their iTunes Music Store that is unencumbered by any software restrictions. Jobs also makes the case that DRM is ineffective, a nuisance to consumers, and should be abandoned by the "big four" record companies - Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and EMI.
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[edit] Selected Responses
The essay caused ripples across the music industry, prompting replies from other major players. Responses include those from Jon Lech Johansen on February 6th, MP3.com founder Michael Robertson on February 8th, Warner Music boss Edgar Bronfman and the open DRM Coral Consortium on February 9th, head of Yahoo Music Dave Goldberg on February 11th, Fred Amoroso of Macrovision on February 16th and the Free Software Foundation on March 7th.
[edit] DVD Jon
The famous decoder of the Content Scramble System, Jon Lech Johansen, criticized Jobs's statistical evidence that users are not locked into using the iPod by using the iTunes Music Store to download music with Apple's FairPlay DRM.[1]
[edit] MP3.com's Michael Robertson
MP3.com founder Michael Robertson suggested some immediate steps that Apple could take to further the ideals expressed in "Thoughts on Music":[2]
- When possible, sell music (such as that of independent artists) in the open mp3 format.
- Publish information on the database format of the iPod so that other software can be used on it.
- Have the iTunes Music Store work with other online stores.
- Make a Linux version of iTunes.
[edit] Warner Music Group Corp.'s Edgar Bronfman
In a conference call on the earnings of Warner Music Group Corp., CEO Edgar Bronfman argued in favor of DRM, claiming that DRM and interoperability are not mutually exclusive.[3]
[edit] Coral Consortium
A multi-industry group working on creating interoperability between DRM formats, the Coral Consortium responded with an invitation to incorporate their technical specifications for interoperability into the iTunes framework.[4]
[edit] Yahoo's Dave Goldberg
In the Silicon Valley Watcher, Tom Foremski interviewed Yahoo Music head Dave Goldberg, who advocated removing DRM from music altogether.[5]
[edit] Macrovision's Fred Amoroso
CEO and President of Macrovision Corporation, Fred Amoroso posted his own open letter in response to Steve Jobs's. In his reply, Amoroso argued that DRM increases both consumer value and electronic distribution by giving users choices (e.g. rent vs. buy). He also argues in favor of interoperable and open DRM.[6]
[edit] Free Software Foundation
The major advocates for free software and authors of the GPL and the GFDL have posted a letter, congratulating Steve Jobs for his clear stance against DRM and asking him to stand for his words by ridding the iTunes Music Store of DRM where he can already do so: For independent artists. They are also gathering signatures to increase the impact of the letter. [7]
[edit] External links
- Thoughts on Music
- Replies by:
- News Articles:
