Comments on: Should Apple join new video ecosystem?

Microsoft, Cisco and Toshiba are part of consortium eager to see DRM interoperability in digital music sector, but is this good for Apple or consumers?

[jameskatt]

Apple has a system that already works for it. And it works very well for consumers. The system works so well, Apple is THE choice for consumers.

The problem of any system which relies on the coordination of a several different and large companies is that you have to agree on a format and authorization method and limits to what the consumer may do with the video. Then you have to create an "independent" company which will handle world-wide authorization - which will need income to handle the huge amount of work this entails.

This all requires some companies to LOSE their own format and DRM - e.g. Microsoft's highly non-standard Windows Media format, in favor of a standardized format such as Apple's very standard MPEG4/H.264.

I find it difficult to see how so many proprietary interests would agree to losing their own format and DRM method.

Who is going to pay for the DRM authentication? Consumers, of course.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Fry`s has a great DVD and CD selection...lots of them are discounted. I prefer having the "real deal" over some compressed format.

[aka_tripleB]

Why is everyone so worried about Apple? I'm more concerned about what is going to happen to Amazon's digital content if the Department of Justice lets this go through. Is Amazon going to be forced to used this DRM, or is it going to get gouged when Amazon is forced to pay higher prices for its content when this consortium set its prices for content? And as I am looking at the list again, I'm also not seeing Walmart on it. Also, wasn't it prices that drove people to stop using the normal channels of distrobution in the first place? I do not remember any ever saying, "I did it to avoid DRM." It was aways prices, then sometimes, to avoid DRM.

[Understarsidream]

If Sony - the most devious controlling media company out there is part of it, I want nothing to do with it.

[Thomas, David]

WAKE UP

The ONLY way movie companies are going to make it easier to distribute movies through the internet is with DRM. Who can blame them, and shame on the person pointing out "Dark Knight" as proof they don't need DRM. That analogy is akin to giving someone a box of white sand, with one, singular pink grain one in it, and then declaring all of the sand is pink.

That is just downright stupid, and only an insane rational to justify ones own self-centered desire for their singular personal pleasure.

[toosday]

My short answer to the question raised in the article is "Yes, they should". But that's only because I have HOPE that one day decent media players other than iTunes will be available on the Mac. (Nothing against iTunes, but I've seen better, but can't use them due to my choice of OS.)

The full reason I say yes, however, is because a good coalition is the sum of its members. Microsoft, Apple, Sony and others teaming up to create a DRM standard would be the best way to go about handling video DRM. Don't get me wrong, I want DRM gone as much as the next person, but I have to agree that movies aren't going to put their content out there DRM-free anytime soon. It's just too expensive of a risk for them. So, in order to make sure we don't have a completely fractured system, we need to create a system that works together.

Apple is the biggest player and is known for being very protective of their DRM practices, so I wouldn't be shocked if they said No. But, I think it'd be very wrong of them to do so. Steve Jobs made a very public statement about being against DRM, but even he knows that video DRM isn't' going anywhere soon: To have a system that works together (hopefully across many platforms without serious flaws) is the next best thing.

Why should Apple join this group of losers? Those who can, do. Those who can't consort.

[Universal_Indie_Records]

I thought this was going to be another Apple bashing post and after reading the comments, I'm applaud the fact the majority of you "get it".

I remember way back before itunes ever launched, the major labels were working on this big initiative to create a Universal DRM to protect their content.... we all know how that turned out.

Looking some of the players most notably Microsoft and Sony and I don't know what to think. Isn't that what Mircosoft's "Play For Sure" was supposed to before they abandoned it for their own closed system with the Zune? Does anyone want another fiasco like that? And the garbage that was Sony Connect doesn't even need to be mentioned.

I personally don't know what the answers should be as I'm not a fan of DRM content. I understand it's reason for existing but it's definitely an inconvenience ., Even Apple's DRM.

[streamOG]

Greg,

You continue to be such a dramatist with your writing.

"I have Microsoft and Yahoo to thank for illustrating just how little control a consumer has over content wrapped in DRM. "

So I guess transfering the content to portable devices and being able to burn it to CDs according to the licensing agreement you agreed to when you bought the music isn't acceptable to you?

I suggest that if you are not comfortable with adhering to the agreements you agreed to, maybe you should just get in your car or hop on a train and go down to your favorite music store and buy a CD right?

It's ridiculous for you to pen your perceived issues on the companies you do business with when you made an agreement to adhere to the rights they granted you. I myself have to seriously doubt whether you were even a customer of MSN Music from 2 years ago or Yahoo Music.