What if Apple stopped issuing DRM keys? | News - Digital Media - CNET News.com
Ξ September 2nd, 2008 | → | ∇ Gadgets |
It happened to Microsoft and Yahoo. Could it happen to Apple?
The limitations of antipiracy software were dramatically illustrated last week when Yahoo Music announced the company would stop issuing authorization keys for the software that prevents its songs from being copied.
Microsoft’s now defunct MSN Music service made a similar announcement last spring. Some CNET News readers have asked whether the same thing could happen at iTunes. The answer to that question is yes, it most certainly could.
If Apple ever stopped issuing keys for its FairPlay digital rights management then, just like at Yahoo and MSN, iTunes users would be prevented from moving their music to different machines or devices. That would affect most of the 5 billion songs the company has sold. (Following much public criticism, Microsoft said it would continue issuing keys for another three years and Yahoo is offering refunds.)
To be sure, the likelihood of Apple shutting off DRM keys anytime in the foreseeable future seems remote at best. Apple is the Internet’s largest music retailer and may be the largest music retailer overall. The company is riding a wave of excitement over the new iPhone 3G, which besides being a phone and Internet-enabled device, is an excellent music player. Apple appears to be on track to dominate retail music sales for a long time to come.
Still, things do change. Who can say what will happen at Apple in 5 or 10 years? That’s a long time from now. But the truth is, DRM’s threat to iTunes users’ music libraries is real.
If, for some reason, Apple stopped issuing new DRM keys, people’s music would get stuck. Check out iTunes’ terms of service. The company says that in such a scenario, customers could not hold it responsible: “In the event that Apple changes any part of the Service or discontinues the Service, which Apple may do at its election, you acknowledge that you may no longer be able to use products to the same extent…and that Apple shall have no liability to you.”
What if Apple stopped issuing DRM keys? | News - Digital Media - CNET News.com.
