Steve Jobs Open Letter On The State Of DRM

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It seems that with legal challenges to Apple's iTunes DRM flying at him left and right, Steve Jobs just can't ignore it any longer. He's penned an open letter addressing the state of DRM, and it contains some interesting news:

It seems that with legal challenges to Apple’s iTunes DRM flying at him left and right, Steve Jobs just can’t ignore it any longer. He’s penned an open letter addressing the state of DRM, and it contains some interesting news:

The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.

Oh, really? We imagine the RIAA might have a bit of trouble with that idea, but as time wears on it seems all but inevitable that DRM go away. And it appears that Steve Jobs has just committed Apple, should the recording industry ever wise up:

If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.

Are you listening music companies? —MEGHANN MARCO

Thoughts On Music [Apple via MacUser] [Photo: Valeria Mellissa]

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