Re: A blow to the Evil Empire?

["Ian Lowe" <ianlowe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> The current model has big flaws, and iTunes is an attempt to=20
resolve a few of them ... and if it's still=20
evolving, that's no surprise.=20

Oh come on. Itunes is an attempt to build a locked down monopoly to=20
prevent anyone else from competing in that space.
Right from the get go, the iPod has been a perfect example of how to=20
build a locked in system =96 Apple didn't allow the device to appear as=20
a mass storage device, so that the only way to get content onto it=20
was via iTunes =96 and used bully boy tactics to legally threaten=20
anyone who tried to fill in the gaps and make it do what people=20
wanted.=20

>For me, if anyone's evil, it's the Holywood Barons, and people who=20
expect things for free !=20

Well, I don't think the "only following orders" defence has
ever=20
really worked. The RIAA/MPAA and their ilk are undeniably some of the=20
twisted control freaks in the world, but Camp Commandant Jobs didn't=20
need much in the way of encouragement to flip a salute and take the=20
opportunity to build a media player monopoly and use it to salvage=20
his nose bombing company.
We have a horrendous minefield ahead of us in the HDMI/HDCP world,=20
where perfectly acceptable combinations of equipment will not be=20
available because of the yes men in tech companies bowing to the=20
demands of these control freaks.
As for the people who expect things for free? Theft of services has=20
always been a problem =96 but the solution is not to treat everyone as=20
a thief, paying customer or not.
Any sensible person would say that if I rip a CD and give my mate a=20
copy then that is not a crime =96 but if I stand at a market stand and=20
sell copies for money =96 no matter how cheap =96 then that is.=20

The current situation where we have draconian legislation and the=20
copying of music treated as a crime on a par with rape or murder is=20
insanity =96 and like it or not, Steve Jobs helped build that world by=20
being an ever present "yes man" to the cause of DRM and
control=20
freakery.

>There's no easy answer to this, I fear ...

Yes, there is =96 copyright needs to be a balance between the rights of=20
the creators to get a reward for their works, and the rights of=20
consumers to use the material they have purchased in whatever way=20
they want. Technology companies should be finding new ways to do cool=20
things with tech, not ways to implement every more restrictive locks=20
and controls. Media companies need to understand that their control=20
over what is done with content ends when cash changes hands.

>sorry, just my 2p ...

In a recent discussion, I said that the only reason Apple even=20
survived was because of customers like yourself who would defend them=20
no matter what they did. This is what I was talking about =96 Apple=20
have acted against our interests and built a 90% market share=20
monopoly, which they have used to rip off UK consumers (1 dollar=20
track in the US costs 1 pound in the UK?), but apple fans still leap=20
to their defence =96 if Microsoft behaved this way, people would be=20
burning effigies of Gates and Ballmer in the streets.
Ian.