Apple Defeats RIAA and France In Same Day 311
gnat writes "The subheading of the CNN article says it all: 'Four largest record companies defeated in behind-the-scenes battle to charge different prices for songs; downloads still 99 cents'. This comes the same day as France backed down on the posturing over demanding iPod interoperability." From the France article: "Apple, which did not return repeated phone calls, and other DRM holders doing business in France, are likely elated. While the law must still be voted on, the alterations in the legislation signify willingness by some in the French government to honor the rights of companies that don't wish to share their technology with competitors. Senate debate on the bill begins Thursday."
Apple continues to rip off the UK (Score:3, Interesting)
99 cents 79 pence
we should be paying 55p a track in the uk.
Apple=1 vs. Consumers=0 (Score:4, Interesting)
For a very good overview about the subject and a much better article than the one in the
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060501-671
"The legislation in question originally contained consumer-friendly provisions that would force technology companies to make their DRM schemes interoperable. This would have a potent effect on the dominance of Apple and iTunes, of course, since the Cupertino company has so far proved unwilling to license its Fairplay technology to anyone else. The non-interoperable nature of Fairplay has been crucial to the success of Apple's online music store, which has leveraged the popularity of the iPod to become the biggest seller of digital downloads on the Internet.
* Previously, "information needed for interoperability" covered "technical documentation and programming interfaces needed to obtain a copy in an open standard of the copyrighted work, along with its legal information." Now this has been changed to "technical documentation and programming interfaces needed to obtain a protected copy of a copyrighted work." But a "protected" version of the work can't be played back in a different player, which means interoperability won't be attained with this clause.
* Previously, the only condition for receiving information needed for interoperability was to meet the cost of logistics of delivering the information. Now, anyone wanting to build a player will have to take a license on "reasonable and non discriminatory conditions, and an appropriate fee." When using information attained under such a license, you will have to "respect the efficiency and integrity of the technical measure."
* DRM publishers can demand the retraction of publication of the source-code for interoperable, independent software, if it can prove that the source-code is "harmful to the security and the efficiency of the DRM."
Re:France backs down? (Score:2, Interesting)
Interoperability with DRMed content is a Free Software issue. People want to be able to read Word files, Protected Adobe PDFs, watch DVDs, listen to WMAs or Fairplayed AAC, etc etc etc.
If their product became a monopoly.. then, maybe the specs for inter-operation to be dislosed. And unlike MS, Apple hasn't used any illegal means to obtain leading market share.
Saying they're not a monopoly is a strawman, I wasn't arguing that at all.
Re:Add This Defeat to the Military History of Fran (Score:0, Interesting)
war against Iraq: Lost (twice)
war on poverty:Lost
war on drugs:Lost
war on terror:Lost
In less than 60 years... lol
BTW, during WWII USA didn't came to France to help the french but to protect themself from : 1) the Nazis 2) the Communists... This makes a subtle difference.
Re:Add This Defeat to the Military History of Fran (Score:3, Interesting)
> French Revolution: Won, primarily due to the fact that the opponent was also French.
I actually found this line funny...but....hey, I'm french !
As a lover of ancient times, I will use this opportunity to greet our nice and friendly italian neighbours (that were a little abused in this topic), whose history I really admire (the roman republic/empire, it's 1000 years of history, it's impact on modern society).
I send greetings to some our other friends in europe : the germans (you rock !, it has been a happy ride togther these past 50 years in the EU) and the citizens of the united kingdoms (well, it hasn't really been as happy a ride together in the EU...but...you know what, we love you all the same...you have your good points too
Mmmmh...looks like we lost a lot of war in the past....mmmhh...
Oh well, whatever...sometimes losing is better than winning
Though I have great respect for napoleon's genius (among all the things he did, quite a few of 'em were done right),
I'm actually happy that he lost in the end and that the European countries aren't anymore under a french hegemony (can you imagine the whole europe having to eat smelly cheese, eat frogs and snails ? )
Same thing goes for our ex-colonies... As a french, I'm quite happy to see you independant : It's the way it should be (don't tell the corsicans
Re:France backs down? (Score:3, Interesting)
In this case, consumers' rights have been violated. Apple sold them a product and then sneaked into their computers and switched the product that they had sold them to one that is arguably inferior. That is wrong, and having a clause in a EULA that says Apple is allowed to do it doesn't make it any less wrong.
By the way, each time you read any part of the above text you automatically agree to pay me $1,000. Now cough up, you filthy pirate!
and don't forget (Score:3, Interesting)
War against Grenada - win
War against Panama - win
War against Somalia - we got "tired of the filthy country"
War against Taliban in Afghanistan - win (well, for at least the 25 percent or so of the country we control)
War against Germany/Italy/Japan - win, with the assistance of the french...
and so on
Re:France backs down? (Score:2, Interesting)
you are right - it can be a PITA - but you didn't think they would make it so uncomplicated that the average Joe could do it easily, did you?
Re:France backs down? (Score:3, Interesting)
--jeffk++
Re:It is a Free Software Issue. (Score:5, Interesting)
That is true, I can definately develop and use software to circumvent a copyright protection mechanism for interoperability reasons. However, the DCMA strictly prohibits me from distributing any such tools that enable circumvention even if I intend them merely for the exempted reasons. The jury is still out on whether that clause will stand, or more accurately in what specific circumstances that clause will hold up in court.
Even if distribution is allowed, the DCMA is not the only law that stands in the way. In particular, there are several patents on Fairplay standard, and without a license, it is not possible to write, distribute, and use this patented technology. There are exceptions that allow you to do some of those three some of the time, but never all three at the same time. For example, patent law does allow for implementation and distribution for educational purposes, but then anyone who used my software for non-educational purposes (even personal use) would run afoul of the law. This is the approach that LAME takes in it's license, which protects the developers but pushes liability onto the users.
I am legally prevented from writing, distributing or using Free Software that can play music encoded with Apple's Fairplay DRM.
To clarify I meant that "I can't do all these three", not "I can't do any of these three". There are three things that make Free Software Free - the freedom to modify, the freedom to distribute, and the freedom to use. If any one of these things are prohibited in a piece of software then it is not Free Software.
Re:France backs down? (Score:5, Interesting)
Most of the French-bashers on the right wing are aren't terribly interested in helping out the tired or the poor, and are more interested in turning the rest of us into huddled masses yearning to breathe free. I don't think they give much of a damn about the statue or the ideals it stood for.