Comment Support Costs (Score 1) 365
While I am sure monetary benefit factored into Apple's equation when making the decision to make iTunes and the iPod a closed pair there are other factors. If the court were to force Apple to license FairPlay Apple would then have to assume the Support Cost of making sure that songs purchased on iTunes function on other players. This in my opinion is the main reason Apple has locked out other players.
Apple has a history of pairing Hardware and Software to make sure they produce a functional product. This is the same reason Console games are easier to code than PC games there is less hardware to worry about.
Based on this argument alone I can not see the courts forcing Apple to license FairPlay or include other DRM schemes in the iPod.
Apple has a history of pairing Hardware and Software to make sure they produce a functional product. This is the same reason Console games are easier to code than PC games there is less hardware to worry about.
Based on this argument alone I can not see the courts forcing Apple to license FairPlay or include other DRM schemes in the iPod.
