It seems every day there's a new service or innovation that helps both artists and consumers, begging the question why we have to take an axe to copyrights. The latest innovation is eListeningPost. I'll forgive them the "e" in front of their name, which seems so 1999, but listen to how it works -- artists create digital versions of songs, which are distributed to others who get a limited number of plays of the songs, then those individuals can purchase the songs if they choose. Artists have a choice between sending the files out without DRM or with. Copyfighters won't like this service because it condones DRM. I like it because it empowers artists, allows them to choose whether DRM is right for them, and helps them to get paid (they get up to 94% of the revenues generated).

If DRM is as anti-consumer as its opponents say it is, they should let it wither and die in the market. If they're right, artists who forgo DRM with eListeningPost will thrive, and those who use it will fail. I place no moral value on DRM; I'm happy to let consumers in the market decide what works for them.

posted by Patrick Ross @ 5:21 PM | DRM & Watermarks, etc., Markets: Business, Investment & Innovation

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