tisdag, augusti 17, 2004

Real Owned

Real Networks's Freedom of Music Choice site purports to reveal a massive groundswell of public sentiment behind Real's effort to convince Apple to open up the iPod to competitors' music services. Whatever you think of the merits of Real's position, the site is blatant one-sided proaganda. In an attempt to show all the grassroots support for their position, Real started a petition. Well, this kinda sotra backfired when nine out of ten of the signatories added comments critical of Real. Now they're trying to cover it up. Real put up a new petition that does not allow signatories to add comments.

Freedom of choice is apparently a good thing, but freedom of speech is to be discouraged when said speech is incompatible with corporate goals. The original petition, complete with comments, is still online. Owned!

5 kommentarer:

daniel sa...

Fast Ipod och Apple är verkligen ett förkroppsligande av devisen "Monopol är kapitalistens mål".

Michael A. Lowry sa...

Apple makes no secret of its wish to dominate the market for online music sales and digital music players. However, despite their #1 position, they do not yet dominate the market. If someday they do achieve a monopoly, it will be in their best interests not to run afoul of anti-trust law. It is in the public's interest that monopolies do not abuse their power; this is the purpose of said laws.
The amusing thing is that Real is claiming to fight for freedom of choice while limiting their own music downloads to one operating system. They want their competitor to make things easier for them, but aren't willing to reciprocate.

Michael A. Lowry sa...

Monopolies (publicly or privately owned) are not inherently evil, but they often behave badly. Like people, companies that are in a position of power and can take advantage of this position tend to do so. This is why most modern states have anti-trust laws. If Apple were to achieve a monopoly in the online music or MP3 player market, they would have to be careful not to run afoul of the law. Abuse of monopoly power is to be discouraged. Anti-trust law is in the public interest. Obviously enforcement has been inconsistent; Microsoft is a glaring example of how the culpaple can sometimes get away with their crimes. Perhaps the law needs to be ammended to work better in the modern business environment. Perhaps the law needs to be enforced more strictly. Maybe both.

daniel sa...

Boy, you really DO love apple, doncha? ;)

Michael A. Lowry sa...

Who told you?