News Europe Strikes Back at iTunes

I think we need to look at the problem from a different perspective: iPod and iTunes are symbiotic in driving each other's sales up. If someone buys an iPod, they'll use iTunes because it's a good service, however, if and when the iPod breaks they have to buy another iPod unless they want to loose all the music they purchased from iTunes. While it's a brilliant strategy, it forces a market monopoly which is no good for the consumer. For example, say, in ten years' time Apple strengthens their monopoly - everyone uses iPod X and iTunes. Apple can (and probably will) release poor, overpriced products ( ahem-sony-ahem) because it knows that people will buy it as they have no other choice. It's either that or loose 10 years worth of music money.

-ed out

 

I have one DRM song on my ipod only becuse i couldnt find it anywhere but Itunes. 37.5 gigs of no DRM music.

 

i hope the EU wins as DRM needs to stop - all it protects is big companies agains other big companies not pirates and scews the consumer.
Apple need a kick in the teeth for supporting the pigopolist RIAA (99% of the money goes to leeches - oh sorry lawyers).

 

Hit the nail on the head. I still think Apple won't open up their drm because it'll hurt their business. They might as well just withdraw from selling their ipods.