DRM (Digital Retardation Management) is on its way to lalaland.
The fundamental problem with DRM is that it restricts. Just like the bracelet the Dutch government wants to give to mental convicts on a leave. It restricts you from doing what you want. In the case of this bracelet you could argue that the person is convicted and deserves punishment, but after a divine moment of purchasing music, or for that matter any type of art, the buyer doesn't deserve to get punished by restriction.
Secondly the music fan has the choice between Free (illegal) DRM free music with more choice than a human brain can handle services and Paid (legal) DRM restricted (some say protected) music services with limited choice. I don't think we need a rocket scientist to explain why people still go to illegal networks.
Last but not least people are used to becoming non restricted owner of things they buy. Trying to convince different is asking a Spanish fly to cool you down. Music is as fundamental as food, ever tried to make money renting out a tasty sandwich?
So we should not restrict people before we know them, we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore we should look at the file sharing networks more as an technology playground. Let's find ways of respecting each others rights and add value to the tech wizards that revolutionized the way the audience listens and accesses music. DRM = FEAR, I say no more fear, let the Music flow and most people that can afford it will pay. And yes it takes two to Tango, so the audience should respect people their rights.
My dear Mom always had a Dutch say. "Zoals de waard is vertrouwd die zijn gasten" (Such as the landlord is, he trusts his guests, or something like that) The point is that you will not sell if you don't trust people first and restrict them with their purchased goods.
Maybe?? DRM can be very useful in leasing or other experimental models, like Rhapsody, but needs to be friendly and clear instead of a PITA ;-)
I look frwd to the financial results of legalized P2P networks that start selling music and empower people to share using the most advanced underlying infrastructures that from a human, economic, technical and business perspective makes the most sense. DARE TO SHARE...
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