Mac Users: Kill Real

What do Mac users think about iTune's FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) scheme, and Real's attempt to hack it?

I think the community couldn't give a rat's ass about DRM, and most Mac users want Apple to stomp Real with a nasty lawsuit, even if they know FairPlay is not in their interest, but Apple's.

Take, for example, San Jose Mercury News' Dan Gillmor, who declares in Thursday's eJournal that he's bought his last song from iTunes. Gillmor writes:

"So Apple is happy to let you play your music only in the way it permits, if you're going to use its devices. The company says it'll rewrite its software to thwart Real's customer-friendly hack -- and I use that word in the benevolent sense -- that lets people use what they've bought with just a bit more freedom than Apple wishes to grant.

Threats to use copyright law against Real are exactly what you'd expect, unfortunately. Apple wants control over online music, and this is just part of the game.

What we customers want is cross-platform compatibility: standards. What the companies want is lock-in. They may win, but they're only locking me out -- because I won't play by those rules. Which means I've bought my last iTunes Music Store song until Apple starts paying more attention to what its customers want."

But Gillmor's readers disagree. In about a dozen comments on his post, all but a couple rally to Apple's defense.

Here's a typical comment: "Go Apple!" writes Fred. "I personally think they should do whatever's required to thwart Real. They have spent a lot of money developing their IA and a really good system. Real has sucked for a long time and really doesn't deserve to be even in the game anymore. And, I doubt the 'normal' customer wants cross-platform compatibility. They just want an easy to use system and to listen to their music. Other then that they could give a rip."

I suspect this is the general consensus among Mac users, who've long hated Real for its shoddy, invasive technology. Even though many iTunes customers know they're getting locked into Apple's FairPlay scheme, and in general, they're opposed to DRM, they trust Apple. Plus, they're delighted to see Apple succeed, even if it becomes the big, bullying giant of online music.

Who's the underdog now?