Why DRM is bad for you
This XKCD comic sums it up the best:
With DRM-enabled files (such as those available from the “legal” online media retailers), you’re not really buying the music - you’re buying the rights to listen to it. And over time, you’re going to end up paying more and more just to maintain those rights.
It’s evident that DRM has nothing to do with protecting either the consumer, nor the artist. Would you support something that’s designed to make life that difficult for you?
A vicious circle. It’s for this simple reason that I’m so very anti iTunes…
I don’t see the deal with iTunes. You pay to download a song in a crappy, proprietary (if i got that right) format, that’s locked to iTunes, and that can only synchronize to your iPhone/iPod?
It’s no wonder people would rather pirate their collections from friends, UseNet and Gnutella. I know I wouldn’t mind paying for music (just bought 2 CDs from Kalahari), but damn, do they have to make it so difficult?
I totally agree. THe few files I own with DRM have been converted to MP3 (burn in hell iTunes!) (even if I did pay to burn them to CDs then rip them again. *grrr*
@Bergen That’s the sort of necessary workaround that pisses most people off. But since I’ve made a point of never owning any DRM media, I can happily say I’ve never had to contend with it to any serious extent.
Had some friends, though, who weren’t as keen on the whole “own your own media” idea. Oh boy.