Given that the majority of music played on iPods are taken from CD collections or (illegally) from file sharing communities, how real has DRM been in preventing the success of other devices and/or digital retail outlets?

If this were true, wouldn't total legal digital sales (from iTunes) and the % of purchased music on iTunes be greater?

I share the view that a DRM-less environment is a big win for Apple. DRM-free music removes the barriers for those consumers who want an iPod but don't want to be tied to iTunes. It also allows non iPod owners to purchase from iTunes.

However, saying that DRM has given unfair advantage to Apple is a bit of a stretch.

Apple has been successful because they provide a seamless experience (and a sexy device) that consumers want. Irrespective of whether it is the best device, it is what consumers have wanted.

Holy fiscal frenzy! You mean the same product costs different amounts of money in different countries. Shocker!

I especially love the comparison to the price in England... they don't even use the Euro there.

You know, I used to live in Germany back in the 80's. Due to the strong dollar, a can of Coke cost me only about $0.17. When Reagan devalued the dollar, the price in German Marks remained constant, but my out-of-pocket tripled to something like $0.51.

Here's an idea. If the Europeans don't like the iPod and iTunes, let 'em buy something else. Or invent their own friggin' iPod.

Jobs took a bad thing (DRM) and spun gold out of it for Apple. Removing DRM won't level the playing field as Apple's lead is based on more than pricing (it ain't the cheapest after all). It's about the user experience. And folks are willing to pay more for a good one.

No, they are not selling you rights they took away from you in the first place. What you got is what you paid for. The terms and conditions of the original sale dictate what you are getting in exchange for what you are giving. Unless, of course, Apple somehow deceived you into buying a DRMed tune that you believed was not. But then everyone seems to be pretty aware of this DRM thing. DRM might have benefited Apple, but nobody forced you to buy.

Alex Pasquariello got it all wrong!

Steve Jobs is the man who convinced the music industry to get into legal downloads and popularized the concept. To convince the music industry, he had to agree to a deal where the music was protected by DRM, despite that CD has always (and still is) sold without any DRM and with higher quality (approx 1400kbps vs 128kbps data rate) files. It is not DRM that ties the music downloaded to iTunes with the iPod, but rather it is the smooth user experience with the integration of iTunes and iPod that ties the two together. So Steve Jobs knows very well that even if DRM disappears, the integration between iTunes and iPod stays.

It is entirely possible for anyone to remove DRM from any music file on PC or MAC. The only hitch is that it is ever so slightly troublesome, and besides "nerds" people are not going to take the trouble. It is also entirely possible to use other music players with MAC or PC than the iPod, but the software and user interfaces are more troublesome. iTunes and iPod combination wins hands down, even if dozens (and more) alternatives are availlable.

Steve Jobs knows that DRM is undesireable, and he has again become the man who stood up (at the right time) to the music industry to suggest it is gotten rid of. He backed up his bold words in february 2007 with action in April 2007. He has said that pending other music industry companies actions, he hopes that 50% of all music sold on iTunes can become DRM free by the end of 2007.

So why shoot at the pianist?

The EU should be busy getting those media companies to do away with region encoding for all DVDs. Find a real target.

iTunes DRM was never much of a restriction on anything. Burn a CD with the song you bought on iTunes, supposedly restricted, then rip the song back into iTunes and viola! You have a DRM-free, unlocked track. Use Sound Converter to change it into an MP3 so it can be played on a Zune or other pathetic players of that ilk. I just don't understand all the whining about iTunes DRM. Are people so damned lazy that burning a CD is just too hard?

Why shoot at the pianist?

Because if Jobs hadn't been making Apple into a profitable company on the back of DRM, this move would have happened 5 years ago.

When fixing a codependent relationship, you need to fix both halves - the enabler and the deviant.

The RIAA is deviant from market demands. Jobs enables them. Both need repair.

And are we all really naive enough to believe that Jobs' comment about DRM did NOT come on the heels of this agreement? The timing is obvious - it's just Mr. Marketing spinning another one for Apple.

Not once in this article is it mentioned that the new DRM-free tracks are also twice the quality. TWICE THE QUALITY! Why are you telling people that all they are getting is no DRM? In fact, you say this explicitly -- that is an out and out lie. Have you no shame?

With a 256K tune, you can play it on your Hi-Fi and it will sound beautiful or you can downconvert it to 128K and put it on your iPod. It's a multipurpose track. But you can't upconvert, so the older tracks are single purpose.

This is obviously a much bigger deal in day-to-day usage than no DRM, which only affects you when you switch players or platforms. Out of that 30%, how much would you honestly (if you are capable of thinking honestly) apportion to TWICE the quality versus no DRM? Audiophiles would probably pay the 30% just for the quality alone.

And by the way, if you buy a complete 256K DRM-free album, there is NO 30% increase -- it's the same $9.99 it's always been. So it's CD quality cheaper than most CDs.

Not pointing out ANY of the actual value offered in this change is an enormous disservice to your readers and the consumer in general. Perhaps you'd prefer to kill the prospects of DRM-free music for some reason by telling lies to depress the market?

Who owns fastcompany.com? Your domain registrar, Network Solutions, says that it can't provide that information because, and I quote, fastcompany.com has "failed to abide by Network Solutions' WHOIS policy". Why aren't you abiding by your own domain's registrar's policies? Is it the same reason you're telling us lies in this article?

When you are number one at anything people take shots at you. Alex.. different cost in different countries is a non issue because Apple wants single Euro Itunes anyway...but seriously, lets take the cost of a BMW in Germany and cry why we can't get the same price here in America....AND why will BMW void my warranty if I use another car repair service or third party parts. Why must I pay through the nose for their parts or repair.I want my warranty and still be able to use anyone and any part. puleeze!!!.... Apple makes a superior product. Period. They did it the best and they did it first. Period. There are so many other places to get music anyway. Apple does not own the rights to the music so they can't just do what they want to please all. Itunes and the ipod have made the ease to get music available to the masses like no one else. We are just in the process of figuring out how to have DRM free music, and make it fair to everyone. It has been developing for a while and it will work its self out. OMG! Look who's leading the way!!!...again!

Hey Alex! you could always get a Zune.. yeah!..a nice brown one. I love the faux click wheel....now if you could just figure out the UI or file restrictions on that piece of brown stuff..LMAO, JTFA

This article reads like the writings of a person that just wants to grind an axe. I'm reminded of arguments with my ex-wife where reasoning just didn't exist. This article, clearly written by someone who opposes DRM, is exposed to the first effort to have exactly what he wants, but refuses to believe that he gotten his way. And so is therefore attempting to convince everyone that were all being taken for a ride. Trying to makes all believe that the big bad Apple is just ripping us off.
Really does remind of an argument with my ex-wife.

Look, this is certainly a step in the right direction. I've listen to people complain about DRMs for the past few years when in reality, the only people that really care that much are those of us that take the time to write a blog about it, and those that respond. Don't believe that? Do a little survey and randomly ask 10 average iPod users their opinion about DRMs. I'd be willing to bet that 5 out of 10 won't know what you're talking about. 3 might be vaguely familiar, and 2 might have a little something to say.
The general public, for the most part could care less, which is why the iPod\iTunes growth to market dominance has been what it has.
You might consider why you are carrying so much anger. You've gotten exactly what you wanted.