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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Apple seeks online music shake-up | Apple seeks online music shake-up |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, has urged the world's largest record companies to begin selling songs online without copy protection software. | Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, has urged the world's largest record companies to begin selling songs online without copy protection software. |
| He said the abolition of copy protection software known as digital rights management (DRM) would be good for consumers and music suppliers. | He said the abolition of copy protection software known as digital rights management (DRM) would be good for consumers and music suppliers. |
| Copyright protection had failed to tackle piracy, he argued. | Copyright protection had failed to tackle piracy, he argued. |
| The firm behind the iPod has been under pressure to make its iTunes music store compatible with other music players. | The firm behind the iPod has been under pressure to make its iTunes music store compatible with other music players. |
| It is clear that the record industry has some responsibility, but that does not relieve Apple of responsibility Torgeir Waterhouse, senior adviser to Norway's Consumer Council Check Apple's share price | It is clear that the record industry has some responsibility, but that does not relieve Apple of responsibility Torgeir Waterhouse, senior adviser to Norway's Consumer Council Check Apple's share price |
| Consumer rights groups in several European countries have lodged complaints with the firm over the incompatibility of iTunes with other music players. | Consumer rights groups in several European countries have lodged complaints with the firm over the incompatibility of iTunes with other music players. |
| "We welcome Apple taking this problem seriously, and addressing it at such a high level," said Torgeir Waterhouse, senior adviser to Norway's Consumer Council. | "We welcome Apple taking this problem seriously, and addressing it at such a high level," said Torgeir Waterhouse, senior adviser to Norway's Consumer Council. |
| 'Best alternative' | 'Best alternative' |
| The abolition of DRM would enable all MP3 users to access music from any online music store, including iTunes, Mr Jobs said. | The abolition of DRM would enable all MP3 users to access music from any online music store, including iTunes, Mr Jobs said. |
| "This is clearly the best alternative for consumers and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat," he said in a statement on Apple's website. | "This is clearly the best alternative for consumers and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat," he said in a statement on Apple's website. |
| Analysts said such a move would benefit Apple as the market leader in the digital music marketplace. | Analysts said such a move would benefit Apple as the market leader in the digital music marketplace. |
| Apple's iTunes store has sold about 2 billion songs since launching in 2003, and accounts for more than 70% of the US digital music market. | Apple's iTunes store has sold about 2 billion songs since launching in 2003, and accounts for more than 70% of the US digital music market. |
| Shared responsibility | Shared responsibility |
| Mr Jobs said that if DRM safeguards were dropped, Apple would be in a position to create a download system that could work with devices other than iPods, including Microsoft's recently launched Zune music player. | Mr Jobs said that if DRM safeguards were dropped, Apple would be in a position to create a download system that could work with devices other than iPods, including Microsoft's recently launched Zune music player. |
| I think Steve is finally saying something he has wanted to say for a long time - he is not saying this just to grandstand, he really thinks this could open up the market James McQuivey, Forrester Research analyst class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5462&edition=1">Send us your views | |
| He called on the world's four biggest music labels - Universal Music, EMI, Sony BMG Music and Warner Music - to begin selling their music catalogues without DRM restrictions. | He called on the world's four biggest music labels - Universal Music, EMI, Sony BMG Music and Warner Music - to begin selling their music catalogues without DRM restrictions. |
| But Norway's Consumer Council said the issues at stake here go beyond those Mr Jobs have chosen to highlight. | But Norway's Consumer Council said the issues at stake here go beyond those Mr Jobs have chosen to highlight. |
| "It is clear that the record industry has some responsibility, but that does not relieve Apple of responsibility," said Mr Waterhouse. | "It is clear that the record industry has some responsibility, but that does not relieve Apple of responsibility," said Mr Waterhouse. |
| EMI said it was considering Mr Jobs' views, while a spokesman for Universal Music declined to comment. | EMI said it was considering Mr Jobs' views, while a spokesman for Universal Music declined to comment. |
| Music download site Emusic, which sells DRM-free songs in the universally compatible MP3 format, backed Mr Jobs' call for the major labels to drop their restrictions. | Music download site Emusic, which sells DRM-free songs in the universally compatible MP3 format, backed Mr Jobs' call for the major labels to drop their restrictions. |
| "DRM only serves to restrict consumer choice, prevents a larger digital music market from emerging and often makes consumers unwitting accomplices to the ambitions of technology companies," said Emusic boss David Pakman. | "DRM only serves to restrict consumer choice, prevents a larger digital music market from emerging and often makes consumers unwitting accomplices to the ambitions of technology companies," said Emusic boss David Pakman. |
| "Consumers prefer a world where the media they purchase is playable on any device, regardless of its manufacturer, and not burdened by arbitrary usage restrictions." | "Consumers prefer a world where the media they purchase is playable on any device, regardless of its manufacturer, and not burdened by arbitrary usage restrictions." |
| Responding to Mr Jobs' comments, Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said: "I think Steve is finally saying something he has wanted to say for a long time. | Responding to Mr Jobs' comments, Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said: "I think Steve is finally saying something he has wanted to say for a long time. |
| "He is not saying this just to grandstand. He really thinks this could open up the market." | "He is not saying this just to grandstand. He really thinks this could open up the market." |