Apple & Real disharmony
Following Real Network’s announcement of Harmony, which allows music in other formats to be played on an iPod, Apple issued the following statement:
We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a
hacker to break into the iPod(R), and we are investigating the implications of
their actions under the DMCA and other laws. We strongly caution Real and
their customers that when we update our iPod software from time to time it is
highly likely that Real’s Harmony technology will cease to work with current
and future iPods.
Real replied that they believe “Consumers, and not Apple, should be the ones choosing what music goes on their iPod”.
“Harmony follows in a well-established tradition of fully legal, independently developed paths to achieve compatibility. There is ample and clear precedent for this activity, for instance the first IBM compatible PCs from Compaq. Harmony creates a way to lock content from Real’s music store in a way that is compatible with the iPod, Windows Media DRM devices, and Helix DRM devices. Harmony technology does not remove or disable any digital rights management system. Apple has suggested that new laws such as the DMCA are relevant to this dispute. In fact, the DMCA is not designed to prevent the creation of new methods of locking content and explicitly allows the creation of interoperable software.” said Real in their statement.
My opinion: Choice is good. Harmony doesn’t remove DRM or allow you to steal music; instead it converts music to other formats while preserving the DRM. It effectively opens the iPod to music downloaded from other sources.
One common criticism of the iPod in the PC press is that it’s tied in to iTunes Musc Store and won’t play music downloaded from other stores. Harmony can eliminate that disadvantage, and I’m sure it would help sell more iPods by allowing it to play more formats.
July 30th, 2004 at 8:18 am
I don’t quite understand the “hubub.” What is the problem with creating cross-compatible music? I think I know what it is. People seem too focused on the DMCA. Are we forgetting that the iPod plays “regular” formats (e.g. MP3s). Yes the DMCA allows for “protected” music, but does it require it. . .?