Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

Yes I agree. I dont think Wal*Mart or Yahoo! or "Urge" or anyone is going to compete with iTunes until they compete on all the levels, hardware and software and content. Its a tall order but thats the deal all these clowns inherited when they let Apple get such a lead by scoffing at the notion of iTunes originally. iTunes matters and leads the way because iPods are the best players, period, and even barring that the iTunes software is superior to anything else I have seen (even if you dont use an iPod, just to play your local mp3's, etc).

And I consider myself a "no DRM at any cost" type geek, I still use iTunes, I just use it with my ripped mp3s - or music that I can buy from non DRM sources (like my previous TMBG post - bands that get it) and no drm (I realize that doesnt make me the target demographic for the iTunes user, they want iTunes purchasers, but still its worth a minor note that even the geeks can use iTunes and not use FairPlay).

Well I *can* strip them out but thats ILLEGAL. Its not a matter of being able to do it but just the entire principle. By law I am allowed to have my own copies, fair use, but also by another law I am not allowed to subvert any digital protection mechansim to make my LEGAL copies, the act of making the copies is illegal - sans DRM - not the resulting copies. So I dont buy from anywhere with DRM, just wont do it.

I think it was Cory Doctorow whom I heard explain that having a copy, even digital, of a CD is clearly fair use (not sure of that was opinion or law though) but that it is also clearly illegal to OBTAIN that copy if there is any DRM involved.