Apple gets IP
The RIAA doesn’t get it. The MPAA doesn’t get it. But Apple does. What is it? IP.
A number of years ago Apple started selling music online for 99 cents a track via its iTunes Music Store (iTMS). Pundits at the time called them idiots. Who would pay for music they could (illegally) download for free? Over a half a BILLION downloads later, looks like Apple was right. People, given the opportunity to do the right (legal) thing, will chose to do so.
Guess what idiotic thing Apple did today? They released an new iPod…the iPod Video and a new version of iTunes/iTMS which allows you to pay $1.99 to download music videos and television shows. Missed last week’s Desperate Housewives? Just download it legally via iTunes and play it on your computer or on your iPod Video. Sheer genius!
Copyright owners need to realize that the cat is out of the bag…it is time to look at ways of profiting from people’s desire to have easy access to your works instead beating the dead horse of suing your own (potential) customers.
In the meantime…Apple is laughing all the way to the bank (and I’ll be adding something to Santa’s list).