DRM fails. Again.
I am feeling a bit cyclical (and cynical) this week. Amusing copyright case from the States? Check. Scientologists unleashing havoc? Check. Underwhelming Apple keynote? Check. The end is nigh? Check. Perhaps I’ve been infected by Cascio’s cynicism (thanks panGloss). I’ve been reading that DRM has delivered us with yet another Read more…
How to stop piracy?
I think that everyone can agree that one of the problems with piracy is that it may have negative effect on some musicians. There is evidence that the music industry has become more reluctant to sign new acts and is relying on old names to stay afloat; and some small Read more…
Music industry chasing its own tail
The British media has been covering heavily the the news that the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Virgin Media have sent its first batch of threatening-yet-polite letters to some of its customers. The move seems to have backfired a bit, as inevitably a disgruntled student has come out claiming that Read more…
ISPs set to enforce illegal downloads in the UK
The latest instalment of a concerted campaign by the IFPI in trying to curb online infringement of their music has arrived (they are trying to attack ISPs). This has been building up in the last few months, as I believe that the bright sparks at the RIAA and the IFPI Read more…
EU to adopt DRM policy?
(via Becky Hogge and others) The European Commission released last week a statement in which it seems to advocate for more DRM across Europe. Viviane Reding, the EU Commissioner for the Information Society and the Media, commented that: “We have to make a choice in Europe: Do we want to Read more…
DRM RIP
(via EFF) Yahoo Music’s general manager has had it with DRM. Just to refresh everyone’s memory, the growing rebel alliance against technological protection measures now includes EMI, Apple, Universal, eMusic and Amazon. There is also the growing phenomenon of the DRM-free online release band. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails have Read more…
Should we care about the iPhone?
Interesting article from the always relevant John Naughton at The Observer. Much has been written about the iPhone’s sleek design, it should be flying off the stalls and become the mobile industry’s equivalent of the Wii. Yet, it has not, it is selling well, but not as well as some Read more…
Universal to trial DRM-free music
Universal will follow EMI’s successful experiment with DRM-less music, but it will not be sold in iTunes Plus (which sort of defeats the purpose, but I digress). This comes as no surprise, as it seems like EMI is very happy with its DRM-free sales. Amazon has also invested in AmieStreet, Read more…
EMI’s sales soar without DRM
There seems to be nothing better than the content and smug feeling you get by saying “we told you so”. Well, we did, and it seems clear that the technical protection measure experiment may have finally crashed (henceforth DRM). Several sites report what every person even mildly clued-in to the Read more…