by Magno Urbano

As it sounds, DRM is crumbling. DRM for those who don’t know, is the technology behind music protection, that is, a method to restrict the user from copying the music he/she already bought.

In the past music industry was in its peak. Everybody was happy. Singers, bands and managers were happy. Music was sold in LP’s. Everybody could easily copy music to cassette tapes, borrow and exchange discs. Everybody was happy.

Then came greedy…

Restriction methods started spreading voiding users from copying the music they already bought. In many cases the user was not even allowed to back up the music he/she have already bought.

Earlier this week, Steve Jobs called on the major record labels to allow online music sales unfettered by digital rights management restrictions. In fact, DRM is a punishement to all who buy music legally as they are restricted in all ways of doing anything, except play, whti the music. DRM has been a disaster for the recording business. Compared to the time before DRM, music sales today are on its lower level of all times. A disaster!
A music bought on iTunes store, for example, cannot play in any other device except iPod. This is making some consumer lobbies in Europe to accuse Apple of  anti-competitive behavior and is leading authorities to push Apple to either unrestrict music or shutdown iTunes store in Europe.

Steve Jobs was the first voice in industry to call for music without restrictions on copying and burning. The problem is that the music industry is clueless about its own job. Ok, piracy is bad. The problem is that, in the majority of cases, NO PIRACY is worse.

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