more on Media Companies Go Too Far in Curbing Consumers' Activities

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Christopher F. Herot" <cherot () herot com>
Date: October 26, 2005 5:12:15 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Cc: gerry-faulhaber () mchsi com
Subject: RE: [IP] more on Media Companies Go Too Far in Curbing  
Consumers' Activities





I'm sure Lee carefully read the Term of Use just as do all conscientious
consumers.  And I'm sure the salesperson in the Apple Store makes  
sure that
all consumers are aware of each and every paragraph before they  
purchase an
iPod.  (For some egregious examples see
http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/10/22/rtf_eula/).

Gerry may correct that Apple is within its rights to devise a  
business model
of its choosing.  Lee (and Walt and the rest of us) are also within our
rights to complain and to bring said complaints to the attention of  
other
consumers before they invest too much in a system that may not meet  
their
needs.

Where I have real problems with this situation is when one group of
companies purchases legislation such as the DMCA that makes the state a
party to these business arrangements.


-----Original Message-----
From: David Farber [mailto:dave () farber net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2005 4:51 PM
To: Ip Ip
Subject: [IP] more on Media Companies Go Too Far in Curbing Consumers'
Activities



Begin forwarded message:

From: Gerry Faulhaber <gerry-faulhaber () mchsi com>
Date: October 26, 2005 3:37:34 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Media Companies Go Too Far in Curbing
Consumers' Activities


Dave [for IP if you wish]--

iTunes makes it perfectly clear that their downloads only work in
iPods. Did the writer not read the terms of use?  Read it but decided
to complain anyway?  If you don't like the deal, then go with
Rhapsody.  But don't use it as an excuse to download copyrighted
music for free.  Whether you agree with the law or not, it is a
violation of the law.

Apple has been fairly clear that their business model is to make
money on the iPod and use iTunes as the loss leader.  This is a
fairly typical retail strategy and I see nothing objectionable about
it (whether it will be successful in the long run is another
question, but that's Apple's problem, not mine, nor yours).  But its
execution requires that iTunes only play on the iPod.

There are legal competitors out there, guys.  Use your freedom of
choice.

Gerry Faulhaber



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