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I'm not convinced. The record industry has already given up on DRM except for streaming. A lot has to happen before DRM is applied to headphones. Audio is not

by audunw 10y ago

I'm not convinced. The record industry has already given up on DRM except for streaming. A lot has to happen before DRM is applied to headphones. Audio is not like video, where it's hard to get a decent copy from the screen. With audio you can always just hook up to the analog output to the speakers themselves and get a copy indistinguishable from the original Fighting for DRM on headphones would be an uphill battle in so many ways, and I'm not sure the record industry is stupid enough to waste the effort. They've already seemed to learn what everyone know: piracy is solved by making the content easily, universally available at a reasonable price. Piracy is tedious. Just make a better service and the customers will come to you.

taeric 10y ago
I would not be so quick to assume they have "given up." Merely that they have so far not had large success.
TD-Linux 10y ago
The movie industry has not given up, and videos also produce audio.
- FreeFull 10y ago
  In fact, you're not even allowed to press Bluray video discs commercially without using Bluray's DRM
gpvos 10y ago
>I'm not sure the record industry is stupid enough to waste the effort. The record industry has made so many stupid attempts at DRM, I don't think anyone has been able to keep count.
6stringmerc 10y ago
Agreed; Apple has a very cozy relationship with the major music industry (see also: paying for exclusive content to best its market-competition) and while yes, this proprietary lock-in does have genuine DRM concerns, I don't think it's nearly as overwhelming as portrayed. I appreciate staying 'concerned' with DRM creep and issues of ownership vs. licensing (something the EFF loves to conflate when convenient for their arguments), but going "Chicken Little" is a bit much. They've already got their DMCA 1201 case in progress to kill DRM. Back to the headphone lock-in: Is it profiteering from customers who really like the Apple ecosystem? For sure! Is it just another instance of using music to sell something else with even higher profit margins? Sure! Will it result in a doom-and-gloom future where thousands of music fans are rounded up, sued, and punished for finding a work-around on their own? Seems very unlikely.

by audunw 10y ago

taeric 10y ago

I would not be so quick to assume they have "given up." Merely that they have so far not had large success.

TD-Linux 10y ago

The movie industry has not given up, and videos also produce audio.

FreeFull 10y ago
In fact, you're not even allowed to press Bluray video discs commercially without using Bluray's DRM

gpvos 10y ago

>I'm not sure the record industry is stupid enough to waste the effort. The record industry has made so many stupid attempts at DRM, I don't think anyone has been able to keep count.

6stringmerc 10y ago

Agreed; Apple has a very cozy relationship with the major music industry (see also: paying for exclusive content to best its market-competition) and while yes, this proprietary lock-in does have genuine DRM concerns, I don't think it's nearly as overwhelming as portrayed. I appreciate staying 'concerned' with DRM creep and issues of ownership vs. licensing (something the EFF loves to conflate when convenient for their arguments), but going "Chicken Little" is a bit much. They've already got their DMCA 1201 case in progress to kill DRM. Back to the headphone lock-in: Is it profiteering from customers who really like the Apple ecosystem? For sure! Is it just another instance of using music to sell something else with even higher profit margins? Sure! Will it result in a doom-and-gloom future where thousands of music fans are rounded up, sued, and punished for finding a work-around on their own? Seems very unlikely.