CNET News.com is carrying an article written by John Borland saying that the iPod undermines Microsoft’s attempt to impose its Digital Rights Management solution to copy-protect CDs. In my opinion, this is a manifestly good development, and a reason for people to choose an iPod or an iPod mini over other types of portable audio players.
The article says that Sunncomm International and Macrovision technologies that have been implemented on copy-protected CDs has been less than successful, in large part because of Apple Computer’s failure to support Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio on its iPods. The article says:
Analysts said the move toward iPod compatibility is very important if copy protection for music CDs is to succeed.
“It’s fairly critical,” said GartnerG2 analyst Mike McGuire. “If the labels start hearing that the reason people aren’t buying an album is because it won’t work on the iPod, then you’ll see some reaction.”
The companies that produce digital entertainment should not be allowed to change the terms and conditions of distribution after a product is sold to the end customer. I think that any digital rights management system that becomes a monolithic standard in the United States would make retroactive license changes much easier. So, even if I weren’t an iPod user, I would be cheering for Apple’s and encouraging its current market strategy.