Jobs to Music Companies: Give Up Copyright Protection Software
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
The chief executive officer of Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, asked the four largest music companies to license songs for online distribution without copy protection software so music purchased online can be played across multiple devices.
The decision on whether to remove so-called digital rights management, or DRM, software to prevent copying of music files is up to Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Group Plc, Mr. Jobs said in an open letter posted yesterday on Apple’s Web site titled “Thoughts on Music.”
Mr. Jobs said the companies, which together control rights to more than 70% of the world’s music, required Apple to create a DRM system for its iTunes store as a condition to selling their music online. Songs purchased on iTunes only play on Apple’s iPod device, while music bought from rival sites is tied to gadgets that work with their DRM systems, he said.
“Convincing [music companies] to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace, Mr. Jobs said. “Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.”
