Digital Home Thoughts: French DRM Law Gutted

"It didn't take long for the new French DRM legislation to get spoiled in committee, and you can't blame French consumers for expecting canard à l'orange and being served some very dodgy escargot instead. The legislation in question originally contained consumer-friendly provisions that would force technology companies to make their DRM schemes interoperable...No one was surprised when the proposed French law was trashed by Apple as "state-sponsored piracy." There was even speculation that Apple might leave France altogether rather than risk opening its Fairplay system. It looks like the French will still get to keep their iTunes Music Store, though, since the original bill was recently gutted in committee. Most of the consumer-friendly provisions in the legislation have since been removed or rewritten."



I'm split on this particular issue. On one hand, Apple has done a reasonable job of making their DRM transparent to the consumer. Users are allowed to burn a number of CDs with purchased songs on them, and up to five computers may be authorized to playback purchased songs through iTunes. On the other hand, you can only play back songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store on an iPod, or through iTunes. Apple won't license the technology to anyone else. That part is frustrating, because although Apple may have (arguably) the best Digital Audio Player on the market (or at least the most popular); many consumers would like to be able to decide for themselves when, how, and where they play back the music they buy. I have an iPod, and I love it. However, I'm also savvy enough to purchase all of my music on CDs, and I won't pay to download music with any sort of DRM on it. I can't see the iPod being unseated anytime soon, but eventually someone will make a better device, and I wonder what consumer sentiment is going to be when that day comes.