UK Retailers blow the whistle on DRM

(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)

The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) asks the music industry to get
rid of DRM which they consider responsible for the continuously decreasing
of online music sales in UK.

The industry music seems to ignore the consumers’ preferences who are
displeased with the copy protection systems imposing limitations on the
content use. Additionally, the occurrence of various incompatible DRM
formats has led to confusion and reserve with the consumers who tend to
prefer file-sharing, lest they should find themselves in the position of not
being able to play the music on their electronic equipment.

According to Kim Bayley, ERA director, the DRM is “working against the
consumer interest” and “puts consumers off”. In a statement to Financial
Times, she has made reference to a survey already discussed in the
EDRi-gram, carried out by Entertainment Media Research and media law firm
Olswang. The study has revealed the fact that four out of five consumers
would rather have copy protection free versions of the music they want to
buy. Therefore, many of them go to file-sharing peer-to-peer services.

Some recording companies, like EMI and Universal have already offered DRM
free catalogues and have experienced increased sales after that which is an
argument in favour of dropping DRM. During the last three years, an average
of one song per resident was sold online in UK, a sign that it’s time the
music industry gave up DRM if they want to see any improvement in the online
sales.

UK retailers to record labels: DRM is killing us (21.11.2007)
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071121-uk-retailers-to-record-labels-drm-is-killing-us.html

UK retailers join the anti-DRM crusade (23.11.2007)
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/11/23/uk-retailers-join-the-anti-drm-crusade/

UK retailers complain DRM is “stifling” music (21.11.2007)
http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/21/uk.retailers.against.drm/

EDRI-gram: DRM-free music is supported by consumers (29.08.2007)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number5.16/drm-free-music

EDRI-gram: DRM debate continues in Europe (28.02.2007)
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number5.4/drm-debate