Comments on: When DRM Sucks

By: Shawno

Shawno — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:59:33 +0000

Andy, you can’t just reply to an e-mail comment through your blog. I mean, yeah I’m subscribed, and got the reply. But that kinda tricky behavior will break Internets 4ever!

By: Andy Melton

Andy Melton — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:50:12 +0000

Shawno - Yeah. That WordPress would be really cool. I wonder if we could get the Gmail guys to integrate that. Oh, wait. I’m on my blog now.

By: Andy Melton

Andy Melton — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:45:43 +0000

Shawno - Yeah. I forget about the analog hole all the time. But it’s an option. Not a very convenient one but yeah, it’s there.

By: Shawno

Shawno — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:35:57 +0000

You know, one easy way to beat ALL DRM is to make an “analog” copy of a song using software and/or hardware on the computer. Since you made the copy with your own software, there won’t be any DRM. I know that can be problematic and less than convenient. But it is an option.

By: Luke (sexyer1)

Luke (sexyer1) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:32:16 +0000

Vote NO on DRM! lol

LOL @ .WAV

I’m sure the remaining dial-up users around the world are jumping up and down for that one.. hehehe Would probably take them 2 days to download 1 track, with 4 hour connections they’d not even manage one song I’m guessing.. hehehe

By: Andy Melton

Andy Melton — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:52:05 +0000

Luke - I didn’t think about that but you are absolutely right. No watermarking then. No DRM of any kind. Nothing. Just clean MP3 files (or OGG, FLAC or WAV! LOL).

By: Luke (sexyer1)

Luke (sexyer1) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:09:17 +0000

I will have to take a look at Magnatune I think..

I think there is a danger with watermarking files, ..example: say I share a song with you, that file has my watermark, then you upload it online, or install a peer-to-peer file sharing program and share that file or unknowingly allow the file to be shared.. Then when the record industry downloads the file, I’m taken to court because it’s my watermark, instantly I’m held accountable for your actions. :o(

That scares me.

By: Andy Melton

Andy Melton — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:56:38 +0000

Luke - Oops. I guess I already covered Magnatune in my post! HAHA!

By: Andy Melton

Andy Melton — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:55:52 +0000

Luke - I have a feeling that it won’t work. When I tried to convert the music to MP3 format in iTunes so I could burn it to a CD it didn’t work in a CD burning application other than iTunes. I suspect that there is still something in the file that says “Hey, you can’t do that. I’m protected!” In my opinion even though it says it’s an MP3 it’s really not an MP3.

What I don’t understand is if the music industry is so worried about people sharing/stealing music then they should instead of requiring DRM restrictions place a simple watermark in the file. Then a month, two or three down the road start going to file sharing sites/services and download music. Look at the watermark and see who purchased the file and who is sharing it to the world.

I wish more organizations would take a look at what Magnatune is doing. They truly are not evil. When you buy an album from them you can download multiple formats (FLAC and even OGG!). When you buy a CD from them you can immediately download the music you just purchased. AND, AND, the best part! When you buy an album from Magnatune they allow you to share that album with 3 people. You pick the 3 people you want to send the album to. They get an email and your friend downloads it, free of charge. Magnatune gets it. Music industry does not!

Ok. I’ve rattled on enough in this comment. It’s more like a blog entry. I guess that’s a good thing about comments on a blog. The discussion doesn’t have to end after I post an entry.

By: Luke (sexyer1)

Luke (sexyer1) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:30:29 +0000

I’ve been downloading a lot of music on iTunes, the DRM-free iTunes Plus music, but when I tried to move it onto my Nokia N-Series phone, it didn’t seem to play, even though it should be able too as far as I can tell in the phone specs.. I agree it’s far too difficult, I buy more music on iTunes than on CD nowadays, yet I still don’t even have an iPod and have no other MP3 player.. Considering that we pay more for music tracks on iTunes in Australia based on AUD/USD comparison, it makes me very angry that I can’t even transfer music to the one device I have which can play this format. I might have to try converting it to MP3 in iTunes and see if that works, I guess the iTunes DRM headers of the files are tripping my phone, although from past experiences with converting files to MP3 in iTunes haven’t worked when I’ll tried to put the files on a CD and tried to play in my MP3 CD player in my car and Stereo/Hi-Fi. I wish Apple and the music industry would all stop being so damned greedy and controlling.