Yahoo & DRM

I was reading today a rather amusing article from ArsTechnica who speak of the recent announcement by Yahoo Music that they will no longer be supporting the DRM on their music files next year, and I quote:

Good thing you didn't download it illegally or just buy it on CD!

No, you were one of the digital pioneers, and in this brave new frontier world, a few people are just going to get malaria. Fact of life. And someone will step in a bear trap, and then it's time for the bite rag, the alcohol, and the saw. Just the price of progress. And yes, some poor group will get trapped in snowfall when crossing the pass, and cannibalism may or may not be involved by the time they stumble barefoot from the mountains next spring. No one can prevent such tragedies.

Funny from this perspective but not so funny for those who have purchased music from this service and who will be unable to transfer their legitimate purchases to new computers.

Microsoft also attempted a similar thing earlier this year until pressure from outside forces including a campaign by the Electronic Frontiers Foundation resulted in a promise to support their DRM for an extra three years. I have CDs I bought in the late 1980s - I have had them for more than 2o years. From a consumers perspective none of this makes any cents.

Further Reading
ArsTechnica, DRM still sucks: Yahoo Music going dark, taking keys with it (24 July 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.arspost/20080724-drm-still-sucks-yahoo-music-going-dark-taking-keys-with-it.html> at 25 July 2008

Digital Music News, Microsoft's Final 'Up Yours' To Those Who Bought Into Its DRM Story (23 April 2008) <http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080422/234401923.shtml> at 26 April 2008

ArsTechnica, DRM sucks redux: Microsoft to nuke MSN Music DRM keys (22 April 2008) <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080422-drm-sucks-redux-microsoft-to-nuke-msn-music-drm-keys.html> at 27 April 2008

Digital Music News, MSN Music: The DRM Aftertaste Really Lasts... (24 April 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042308msn> at 26 April 2008

Digital Music News, Microsoft: We'll Support Your Downloads After All (17 June 2008) <http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/061808msft> at 20 June 2008