Steve Ballmer Channels The RIAA
from the how-nice dept
Looks like Steve Ballmer also wasn't present for Cory Doctorow's speech to Microsoft about what's wrong with copy protection. Microsoft, of course, is now working with the recording industry to come up with yet another attempt at copy protection, and Ballmer decided to trash Apple's DRM technology, saying that: "The most common format of music on an iPod is 'stolen'." This is only going to get more amusing as it goes on. It's really more of a dig at Apple than music downloaders, and it shows that Microsoft views Apple as the competition -- and not all the file sharing apps out there. Once again, they're missing what's really going on. Basically, Microsoft is now admitting that they don't care what the consumer wants, and are spending a lot of money to make a product with fewer features that does less than what current products already do. It's not hard to see why that seems like a backwards strategy, but if they want to go down that path, they're welcome to it. They just shouldn't expect everyone to follow. Update: Meanwhile, in another article, Ballmer claims the company is finally listening to its customers. It certainly doesn't sound like it concerning their stance on copy protection. Update 2:: A reporter who was there gives a little more perspective on what Ballmer actually said, suggesting it wasn't as bad as it originally sounded.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
No Subject Given
Don't think Mr. Softie can make the rules ? Watch the operating system upgrades closely as they come out and don't be surprised if some of the 'enhancements' include locking you into the Microsoft Way.
And sad thing is, they'll get away with it. Most users really don't know enough to care. As long as they push the button and get what they think they want, life is good.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
Microsoft SELLS TO those customers. They do NOT own them. They do NOT control them, except that they may be trying. They SERVE those customers.
And until people actually start talking about it this way, all those customers are unlikely to ever realize the simple fact.
Microsoft serves YOU, not the other way around! Demand it!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Balmer
Wouldn't the same percentage of people be listening to mp3s on their copies of Windows Media Player on their home PC? And wasn't it most likely a Microsoft operating system that helped them download the illegal file in the first place?
It is nice to know that Microsoft has seen the power of insulting your users though. Seems to be working for the RIAA.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Listening how
[ link to this | view in chronology ]