Not Just Picking on Amazon and MLB

Just in case you think I've been picking on Amazon and Major League Baseball recently in some of my articles about Digital Rights Management, here are some links to others who have taken money for their product and then turned it off.

• Microsoft's MSN Music's "PlaysForSure" DRM key server - slated for turn-off in August of 2008, has been extended to "at least" the end of 2011 - no word on extensions
• Yahoo! Music pulled their key server as of September 30, 2008
• Wal-mart's digital music threatens to shut down their key server October 9, 2008 then relents
• And of course - back to Amazon and the fact they can turn your Kindle off entirely - and you lose the books you've paid for - no refund this time.
• Virgin Music (UK) closed their system down October 19, 2007

The one good thing about the Apple iPod, iPhone and new iPad is that the "Fairplay" DRM they use does not need to "phone home" for you to play the item, so if (heaven forbid) Apple ever went out of the music business you still get to keep your music - and you can burn it to CD unencumbered by DRM anyway. And of course, since January 6th last year, Apple now sells much of its music in straight MP3 flavour.