Honest Music Consumers Get Screwed Again (and Again)

And the RIAA wonders why people steal music. From the YAHOO! email:

After September 30, 2008, you will not be able to transfer songs to unauthorized computers or re-license these songs after changing operating systems. Please note that your purchased tracks will generally continue to play on your existing authorized computers unless there is a change to the computer's operating system.

(Via Read Write Web)

On Amazon And The iTunes Music Store

Jeff Atwood has a great write up on his blog about why we should support DRM free music. For the most part I agree with his points (I love that Andy Baio quote). However, I think there's an aspect of the situation that's overlooked.

The real reason the iTunes music store was successful while so many others failed was in it's design and execution. Apple was the company that figured out how to make purchasing digital music fun, easy, and aesthetically pleasing. There's real value in the experience that Apple has created, that Amazon fails to provide.

I have not purchased DRM protected music in a long time. There's just too many other legitimate options these days. But if I have the choice of iTunes DRM free or Amazon I will choose Apple every time.