RealNetworks: Doesn't Offer Real Freedom of Choice

RealNetworks pitched a fit because songs sold at the Real Music Store could not be transferred to Apple's iPod. Real's "Freedom of Choice" campaign says that consumers should be able to play their music using the device of their choice.

Your CD collection has become more valuable over time because third parties could freely enable new uses, like ripping MP3s or creating your own ringtones. That's not the case with music you buy from Real. You'll have to rebuy all your music in a compatible format. Unlike MP3s, DRM-crippled music can't easily be converted to other formats.

Real Music Store Restrictions

• Restricts back-up copies: Song can only be copied to 5 computers
• Limits audio CD burning: Same album or playlist can only be burned 5 times
• No reselling songs
• No remixing: Cannot edit, excerpt, or otherwise sample songs
• DRM restrictions can change: "DRMs may be able to revoke your ability to use a Download -- if you violate the usage rules associated with Downloads." "Real may modify this Agreement [which sets out the usage rules] at any time in its sole discretion."

Napster: Music "Any Way You Want It" -- So Long As You Pay for It Over and Over Again

For a monthly subscription fee, the Napster Unlimited music rental service offers you the ability to stream and download as much as you like from its entire catalog. If you miss a monthly payment, the DRM renders the downloaded music unplayable.

Even while your subscription lasts, however, the DRM ensures that you don't get to use the music "any way you want." Want to move your music to a portable player? That'll be an extra five bucks per month for Napster To Go -- and you'll still only be able to play it using software or devices licensed to play WMA-protected subscription content, which excludes the iPod and most other portable players. How about burning a song to CD? Napster's DRM requires you to cough up 99 cents more. What if you want to copy music to more than three computers? Pay another monthly subscription fee, or 99 cents per song. And what if you want to mix a song snippet with a home movie? Forget it - the DRM forbids that entirely.

Tired of DRM-protected file formats like WMA, M4P, AA, M4B, MP4 getting in your way?

Share DRM Music enables you to listen to your music and audio book wherever you want to. It uses Virtual CD-RW tech to simulate the whole procedure of Burning/Ripping/Encoding automatically, so it provided that the user is legally entitled to listen to the music.

Testimonials

"I purchased the program yesterday and I'm very impressed with how well it works. I can now get rid of the 30 plus audio CD's in my car and replace them with just a few MP3 CD's. The same with my audible books. I don't like having to either listen to books on the ipod in my car or having to rip 10 CD's for one book ..... now I can have a book on one CD broken down into tracks to easily pick up where I left off. All I can say is 'Thank You' for making this program ....." --Michael