If the iTunes Music store stops…
As an author, I support most of the DRM efforts on the part of Apple and others to protect copyrighted material. I’ll caveat that by also stating I feel that some parties are using copyright protection as a ploy to control in a way that far exceeds the intent of copyright protection. That’s a discussion for another day. Because I feel the way I do about copyright protection in general, I have no problems with buying and downloading material from iTunes and living with its restrictions.
There is one exception, however, and it is when I consider the idea of what happens if the iTunes Music Store shuts down. Apple’s recent legal filings with the Norwegian consortium trying to address that issue have not left me comfortable that Apple even has a plan, and there is a good chance that iTunes customers could, at some point, be left out in the cold. That’s unacceptable.
When faced with obsolescing some of its operating systems that use activation, Microsoft planned to essentially deactivate the affected OS’s activation schemes so customers could continue to use them. This is the correct approach. Hopefully, if Apple ever felt it wanted to let go of iTunes, it would take the same approach; and sometime just before the store was activated, it would send some kind of command or issue a software update that would allow previously purchased material to be played without restriction. Otherwise, Apple and DRM laws are cheating consumers of their rights. Consumers need to understand this is a risk they’re taking, and that depending on iTunes content alone for their favorite material could be problematic at some point.
I am in that camp. I love the Battlestar Gallactica TV series and have been purchasing every one published via iTunes. I’ve also recently started collecting Babylon 5 shows. I love watching them when I’m working out on my exercise bike, and it’s cheaper buying them from iTunes than buying them on DVD. However, if I consider the possibility that I could wind up holding the bag if the iTunes Music Store goes away, then buying the DVD’s looks more attractive. I can still watch them while working out by using a portable DVD player or by taking the other less legal route of ripping the DVD’s off and putting them on my iPod. For now, I’ll continue buying my stuff from iTunes.
Be warned, Apple. If I think for an instant that decision is backing me into a corner, it will be the last iTunes purchase I ever make.
There is one exception, however, and it is when I consider the idea of what happens if the iTunes Music Store shuts down. Apple’s recent legal filings with the Norwegian consortium trying to address that issue have not left me comfortable that Apple even has a plan, and there is a good chance that iTunes customers could, at some point, be left out in the cold. That’s unacceptable.
When faced with obsolescing some of its operating systems that use activation, Microsoft planned to essentially deactivate the affected OS’s activation schemes so customers could continue to use them. This is the correct approach. Hopefully, if Apple ever felt it wanted to let go of iTunes, it would take the same approach; and sometime just before the store was activated, it would send some kind of command or issue a software update that would allow previously purchased material to be played without restriction. Otherwise, Apple and DRM laws are cheating consumers of their rights. Consumers need to understand this is a risk they’re taking, and that depending on iTunes content alone for their favorite material could be problematic at some point.
I am in that camp. I love the Battlestar Gallactica TV series and have been purchasing every one published via iTunes. I’ve also recently started collecting Babylon 5 shows. I love watching them when I’m working out on my exercise bike, and it’s cheaper buying them from iTunes than buying them on DVD. However, if I consider the possibility that I could wind up holding the bag if the iTunes Music Store goes away, then buying the DVD’s looks more attractive. I can still watch them while working out by using a portable DVD player or by taking the other less legal route of ripping the DVD’s off and putting them on my iPod. For now, I’ll continue buying my stuff from iTunes.
Be warned, Apple. If I think for an instant that decision is backing me into a corner, it will be the last iTunes purchase I ever make.
posted by Andy Foster at
8:35 PM
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