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February 8, 2007

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Putting the “DRM” in “drama”, day 3: the Bronfman and Bainwol show

Posted Feb. 8, ’07, 8:42 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | iTunes » iTunes Store

Bronfman and BainwolLadies and gentlemen, welcome to day 3 of DRMgate. Day 1 saw Steve Jobs’s infamous epistle, while day 2 brought us reactions from around the industry. And day 3 brings us more thoughtful, measured responses to the challenge that the record labels should drop Digital Rights Management.

The CEO of Warner Music, Edgar Bronfman Jr. (top, wielding his infamous deadly air quotes), in a call with analysts, said that Jobs’s arguments were “without logic and merit. We will not abandon DRM.” Because the pro-DRM side is so logicful, Bronfy—may I call you Bronfy? After the call, Bronfman reputedly turned to his lackeys and whispered maniacally: “Never, I tell you—never! Muhahahahahahahaha.”

Meanwhile, RIAA chief Mitch Bainwol (bottom) responded to Jobs’s claim that licensing FairPlay would really just open up the scheme to more attacks. Said Bainwol, “We have no doubt that a technology company as sophisticated and smart as Apple could work with the music community to make that happen.” Ouch: somebody’s been working on his backhand.

Not everybody is riding the anti-Jobs gravy train, though. EMI Music commented on their experiments selling un-DRM-encumbered tracks via Yahoo! Music:

“The feedback from fans (has) been very enthusiastic,” EMI spokeswoman Jeanne Meyer said.
Hey, here’s a quick pop quiz: how many consumers have ever written in to say how much they like DRM? What the hell would that sound like?
Omigosh, I just wanted to tell you that I’m in luv with FairPlay! You guys do such a good job of preventing people from stealing my music. This way, I don’t have to share with my friends—who never return my MP3s anyway. And don’t even get me started on not being able to rip my DVDs to my computer—I wouldn’t even know how to go about that, so it’s a good thing that I can’t—by law. Keep up the great work!

Hugs and kisses,
Dan


6 Comments

Kate said:

"Omigosh, I just wanted to tell you that I’m in luv with FairPlay! You guys do such a good job of preventing people from stealing my music. This way, I don’t have to share with my friends—who never return my MP3s anyway. And don’t even get me started on not being able to rip my DVDs to my computer—I wouldn’t even know how to go about that, so it’s a good thing that I can’t—by law. Keep up the great work!

Hugs and kisses,
Dan"

Ooh, snarky :-)

February 8, 2007 9:07 AM
Doug Adams said:

The Music Recording Industry Elite, with every word they speak, proves once again that they are 1) dinosaurs, 2) pathologically paranoid, 3) inept, 4) ignorant, 5) greedy, and 6) unwilling to bend to consumer demand. Now, excuse me while I rip a few dozen DRM-less CDs (for personal use, of course).

February 8, 2007 9:37 AM
Adam said:

Again, these old dinasour farts need to just die.

Why do these people fight change so much?

And I'll never understand why I can't copy dvds. I can back up music but not movies?

Oh I hate these people.

There must be something we can do.

February 8, 2007 10:45 AM
Dave said:

Bronfy, you can point out logical fallacies, but to dismiss without critique is the best example of an absence of logic.

As I said on the Macworld piece, RIAA should shut up or put up. Given that only the record labels benefit from an "open" DRM scheme, they should be the ones to develop the technology, license it to everyone on a level playing field, and assume responsibility for fixing it when it's hacked. Asking Apple to do it with backhand complements (reminds me of Andy Hertzfeld's meeting with Gates about Switcher) is slimy--even for lawyers.

February 8, 2007 11:14 AM
Nick said:

In the meantime, less and less people buy real CDs.

Hum, what will it take?

The point is moot though. DRM is cracked regularly, people don't buy CDs anymore and people don't want to be called stealers.

In the meantime, the record companies and movie industry has botched up something so simple as DRM that was supposed to keep money going to their rightful owners. But the real problem, the middle man got too hungry.

Lovely situation stuck in the middle... Oh, my what an entangled web they weave.

February 8, 2007 11:22 AM
Donn said:

I would love it if SJ would do the following things:

1. Place a free-to-download utility on Apple.com which "simulates" burning a CD from iTunes (goes to a folder instead) ... you know, for testing purposes

2. Tell people at his next keynote, with a wink and a smile, how he is saving them money by preventing CD coasters

The blogosphere will certainly take care of the rest. It will be pointed out that this is a way of circumventing FairPlay, but it will also be pointed out that this was always available, you just don't need CDs anymore.

February 8, 2007 11:37 AM

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