Apple Locks Out Real

There was quite a stir when Real announced that they would make songs for their new online music service available for use on iPods. What made this so provocative was that their music service uses Digital Rights Management (DRM) to prevent copying, exactly as Apple does with FairPlay and Microsoft does with their own scheme. However, Apple didn’t license FairPlay to Real.

That was the rub. Real was maintaining DRM without a license to use FairPlay. In order to accomplish this feat, they reverse engineered FairPlay. They got to use software that Apple supplied without paying for it in some way. The fact that Apple didn’t want to license at any price is a moot point. They are the legal owners and it is their decision whether to sell licenses or not. Just because I’m not willing to sell my car to you doesn’t give you the right to jack it.

Well, it should come as no surprise that Apple has intentionally broken compatability with Real’s Harmony service with both changes in the iPod Photo’s firmware and the latest round of firmware updates to click-wheel iPods. Real itself knew this was coming, as did any well read user. However, many of Real’s customers may not have known this and may now be irrate that their music that previously played is now useless (at least until Real figures out how to remedy the situation). First they’ll blame Apple for breaking their iPod (even though it’s not broken at all) and then they’ll come to loathe Real as they find out iTunes songs and MP3’s play fine. The true loser in this situation is going to be Real, having committed themselves to a goal that is not only underhanded but nearly impossible to ever achieve over the long run.

  • You make it sound so clear and actually I think you are right. An important side point to me, though, is that Apple's policy seems to be against my best interests as an iPod owner. It seems to me that Apple needs to do a better job of explaining to iPod customers why they are doing what they are doing - and it needs to be a good reason. Not just a - I don't feel like sharing answer. We are losing access to music from other services and I want to know why I should put up with that or actually I would like to know why I shouldn't be unhappy about it. That's all.
  • Derik
    Apple probably should be more up front about why they don't support other services. I think an explanation of why they don't support Windows DRM would be good. As for breaking Real compatibility, I think they might explain how Real is in violation of using their software without a license. If Real wants to offer iPod compatibility, they could just convert to MP3 (but I doubt their record company partners would much appreciate it).

    At the same time, should Apple even consider offering a license a company that is offering a Windows only music service? If Real wants to offer choice, why are they locking out Mac users? I think until these companies start taking Mac compatibility seriously, Apple is forced to deny all access to FairPlay.
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