7 Reasons Why DRM is Dead

Filed in archive Commentary , Industry on January 23, 2007

Eliot Van Buskirk argues that technology and competition may finally kill DRM. The most compelling reason is "The labels want Apple's dominance to end, and MP3 looks like the only way to make that happen." The only problem with his argument is that Hollywood is an oligopoly, not a free market industry. It uses a different calculus based on change minimization and asset preservation, not future revenues and strategic opportunities.

In any case, here are his 7 reasons:

1. The labels don't have a choice
2. Apple might be forced into interoperability
3. Thomson has endorsed selling watermarked MP3s
4. Amazon is rumored to start selling MP3s by April
5. Sony says "DRMs are going to become less important"
6. People love AllofMP3.com
7. MP3 has future options