We’ve talked before about the negative impact digital rights management is having on the music industry. Now, in an article entitled ‘Want An iPhone? Beware The Digital Handcuffs”, journo Randall Stross suggests that Apple’s protection system will damage its sales as people turn to MP3s from services such as EMusic.
As consumers become more aware of how copy protection limits perfectly lawful behavior, they should throw their support behind the music labels that offer digital music for sale in plain-vanilla MP3 format, without copy protection…
One online store, eMusic, offers two million tracks from independent labels that represent about 30 percent of worldwide music sales.
Unlike the four major labels — Universal, Warner Music Group, EMI and Sony BMG — the independents provide eMusic with permission to distribute the music in plain MP3 format. There is no copy protection, no customer lock-in, no restrictions on what kind of music player or media center a customer chooses to use — the MP3 standard is accommodated by all players.
Want an iPhone? Beware the iHandcuffs – New York Times
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