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‘EMI to go DRM-free’ in Apple iTunes deal, ‘but at a price’: Biz model ahead for some e-publishers?
April 2, 2007 | 10:47 am
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By David Rothman
“Record company EMI has announced that they are to ditch DRM, but at a price. Premium versions of its digital catalog will be made available on Apple’s iTunes, without Digital Rights Management, and encoded at the higher bit-rate of 256kbps (up from 128kbps).” – ZDNet.
The TeleRead take: Encouragingly, iTunes won’t be the only outlet where this happens. Google News roundup here. Techmeme links here. MobileRead here, including spec that this is a cool way for EMI to one-up rivals. Ars Technica update here. Earlier TeleBlog item here.
So how long until a large publisher gives people the option of paying a little more to enjoy DRMfree e-books—perhaps with bonus content, or even discounts on the same p-books?
Meanwhile here are some interesting observations from Bill Janssen on the eBook Community list, followed by my further reflections on e-books and DRM:
–EMI notes that in their tests, DRM-free music outsells DRM-laden music 10 to 1.
–The DRM-free versions will sell for a 30% premium over the DRM-laden version.
—The DRM-free version will also be a higher bit-rate–twice that of the existing DRM-laden version.
—Apple expects 2.5 million DRM-free songs to be available by the end of the year, including labels other than EMI.
This is really the end of the CD.
Publishers, did you notice the 10 to 1 and also the premium for DRMless content from EMI? It isn’t all just a matter of bit rates. Consumers hate DRM, and all the legislation and “education” prorgrams in the world won’t change that. While I’d vastly prefer gentle DRM over the Draconian variety, the best solution is none. I’ll spend much more on e-books if I can own them for real.
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Comments:
Very good point. I’ve always believed that publishers will be able to find effective ways to incentivize readers to buy their books, and to develop other revenue models, without the need for DRM/TPM protection. So long as the larger publishers continue to rely on DRM for selling e-books, they have less incentive to explore a variety of alternatives.
Thanks, Jon. I know large publishers are shy about speaking out on these matters, but I’d welcome some comments, anonymous if need be. The name of the game for publishers shouldn’t be pro-DRM ideology but profit growth. We know that DRM prevents some piracy and maybe even most piracy. On the other hand, however, it also “prevents” maximum revenue. – David
> We know that DRM prevents some piracy
> and maybe even most piracy.
The following is only slightly related to the topic, but anyway…
Last week a friend of mine bought a new video projector. He specifically asked for one that would work with his DVD player that had digital DVI output. The video projector he got has HDMI input. Playing DVDs using the projector worked, but only with copied(/pirated) DVDs, not with his legally bought DVDs.
So, at least the HDCP crap in that HDMI device promotes “piracy” rather than prevents it. :-/