This post is stolen

This post is stolen This post is stolen Reviewed by David Pearce on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Rating: 5

4 comments:

  1. Or you could just buy DRM-free MP3s to start with (or buy a CD and rip it - technically infringing copyright, like anyone cares).

    Or you could do what I've been known to do (very) occasionally: download a copy of a track from a dodgy Russian MP3 site, and then also buy a DRMed copy from iTunes. So then the artist and label have got their revenue, and I've got a copy I can actually listen to. Again, technically infringing copyright, but in a way where I can look myself in the mirror afterwards. :-)

    But yes, I love that cartoon. Captures the commercial folly of DRM schemes perfectly. And the "things change" aspect is far from theoretical: witness the way in which Wal*Mart has switched off its DRM servers, leaving its pre-February 2007 customers with unplayable music, and a choice to either pay for their music twice (yeah, right, very likely) or either obtain "pirate" copies or try to circumvent the DRM.

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  2. Well it's right, isn't it? If you want to keep content you've collected, such as music, then get it on a format free of DRM. That way "It's yours for life".

    Some vendors are going over to non-DRM'd formats, such as mp3, and this is to be welcomed (though I prefer flac, which give better reproductive quality).

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  3. Yo ho ho, and let's chug a goblet of grog.

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  4. Don't ever buy products with mandatory DRM. Never ever!

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