LibrarianActivist.org

Just a quick follow-up to my last post about Apple’s Steve Jobs public declaration that iTunes would sell music without DRM if the big music labels would agree.

There was much speculation online about what caused this relatively low-key announcement on the Apple web site. The most likely explanation I’ve seen is that it is a response to Norway’s anti-trust decision against Apple. They handed down this verdict since the iTunes DRM prevents buyers from playing music they’ve legitimately purchased on any other competing MP3 player. If it was just Norway leaning this way, that would be one thing. But Norway is also encouraging other EU members to support and implement this decision as well which could have severe repercussions for Apple.

Another noted computer columnist, John C. Dvorak, weighed in on the discussion, agreeing strongly with Jobs that DRM is an “out and out disaster”.

I don’t know if this thing is going to have legs or not but I hope so. Rhetorical question of the day - why do companies always seem to resist new technologies - from piano rolls to VCR’s - that end up making them more profitable in the end?

- JH

In light of the reaction of many librarians at the recent CLA conference about Captain Copyright and the general disgust I think everyone feels at Access Copyright for their Captain Copyright campaign, (bravo CLA for issuing a statement about advertising to children. It is important to keep in mind that when the fall session begins in Ottawa, copyright is going to be a major issue and even more Digital Rights Management. It seems to me that in both my professional and private life there is often a lot of confusion about what the heck copyright is and does, and how and who it affects or what is being planned or proposed.

With this in mind Michael Geist’s Wiki on DRM is becoming more and more interesting and essential as he looks at some of the major problems and issues with the DRM aspects of copyright law.

I don’t agree with everything he says, but I think it’s great that he’s highlighting some of the big pitfalls in store for us. As he says on the wiki, “We should be working on a positive copyright agenda that includes an expanded fair dealing provision, reform to the statutory damages provision, the elimination of crown copyright, and protection from DRM. Instead, given the strength of the copyright lobby, we may need protection from the next copyright bill”.

Cheers,

D