Media standard backers attempt Apple-less solo run
'We don't need no stinkin' iTunes'
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Computer and entertainment companies have announced a plan to standardise video and music files so that they play on any device. The ambitious plan has not been backed by the dominant force in digital downloads, Apple.
Through its iTunes software and online shop, Apple is the largest distributor of legal music online, and is responsible for more than 70 per cent of downloads. It has not agreed to be part of the consortium, called the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE).
"To open up the market for digital distribution, we are developing a specification that connects a wide variety of services and devices," said Mitch Singer, the consortium's president. "DECE is taking the lessons learned from the successful 'buy once, play anywhere' experience that we enjoy with CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray today, and using a similar approach in developing the next generation digital media experience."
The group's members include Microsoft, Sony, Toshiba, Warner Brothers and NBC Universal as well as computer equipment makers Cisco, HP and Intel.
It said that it will publish a specification in the future which the makers or distributors of music or video can use to ensure their material will be playable on machines built to that specification. It will create a logo which devices and services that are built according to that specification will display.
While file formats such as MP3 and MP4 themselves have become industry standards that are usable by almost all services and devices, digital rights management (DRM) systems have not been standardised.
It is Apple's DRM system which ties some material acquired through iTunes to devices that it manufactures. If it stays outside of DECE then iTunes material is likely to remain incompatible with players subscribing to the DECE specification.
Singer told the Financial Times newspaper that he did not believe that Apple's absence will damage the proposed standard.
“I’m not sure that the absence of Apple is a negative to what we’re trying to achieve,” he said. “Apple is a very good ecosystem that will continue to sell content. What we’re focusing on is a different type of consumer that really wants more choice.”
Copyright © 2008, OUT-LAW.com
OUT-LAW.COM is part of international law firm Pinsent Masons.
COMMENTS
re: don't get it
Technically illegal in the UK, that.
Until they upped the law to make "profiting from copyright infringement" no longer a point to damages for copyright infringement and then "forgot" to allow fair use, this was not a problem: you could be sued for the total damage of £0.00p because you didn't cost them a thing when copying for private use.
don't get it
iTunes don't lock me in at all. I can burn my music back to cd which I can play anywhere or if so desired rip again!
It won't go away as the integration is very good and straight forward, you can call names like technically unsavvy but some of us just like to enjoy life and our media without manually fiddling about. My iTunes library is perfectly synchronized across 3 computers, two iPods, two iPhones, one apple tv whilst each user can maintain it's own ratings.
This just won't work and is a waste of time.
i-tunes is the weakest link
Yes, things are changing, and yes, Apple is the 400kg download gorrilla.
I'm sure the others are hoping that Apple will stumble with an i-Tunes update, and open the door. One slip with advertising or usability might reveal customer loyalty to be skin-deep.
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