Re:Apple AirPods: iPhone accessory or the next big thing?
by scarface74 on Tuesday January 07, 2020 @11:18PM
(#21988284)
That’s not at all what happened.
Around the end of 2006, the music industry was complaining that no other music store could compete with iTunes because the DRM wasn’t compatible. They wanted Apple to license FairPlay to competitors.
Apple refused and Jobs posted his famous “Thoughts on Music” letter on the front page of Apple’s website where he said that if the music industry wanted interoperability, they could license music to everyone DRM free and there would be interoperability. Especially since all physical music was already DRM free.
Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.”
There was some haggling back and forth about terms. The music industry wanted variable pricing, to be able to sell more music as a whole album and a cut of each iPhone sold. Apple refused all of their demands.
The other stores acquiesced and were able to sell DRM music before Apple. However EMI and some independent labels did agree from day one.
Two years later all of the music labels came to terms with Apple and allowed it to sell music directly on the phone over the cellular network.
Around the end of 2006, the music industry was complaining that no other music store could compete with iTunes because the DRM wasn’t compatible. They wanted Apple to license FairPlay to competitors.
Apple refused and Jobs posted his famous “Thoughts on Music” letter on the front page of Apple’s website where he said that if the music industry wanted interoperability, they could license music to everyone DRM free and there would be interoperability. Especially since all physical music was already DRM free.
https://fortune.com/2014/12/14/re-thinking-steve-jobs-though...
Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.”
There was some haggling back and forth about terms. The music industry wanted variable pricing, to be able to sell more music as a whole album and a cut of each iPhone sold. Apple refused all of their demands.
The other stores acquiesced and were able to sell DRM music before Apple. However EMI and some independent labels did agree from day one.
Two years later all of the music labels came to terms with Apple and allowed it to sell music directly on the phone over the cellular network.