Movie studios vs. their customers Part 2

Just a few weeks ago I was reporting that Universal Studios was receiving it’s share from every Zune player sold and asked my readers to consider this before buying a Zune player because it could very well be the precedent of something that Universal, and other movie studios, wanted: A share of every media player that is being sold. Apparently they were quick to act.

Reuters reports that Universal Group Chief Executive Doug Morris may want to fashion an iPod royalty fee with Apple Computer Inc. in the next round of negotiations in early 2007 which could mean that customers would have to pay a similar fee as the Zune’s for a newly purchased iPod to the music studios.

This basically means that customers are paying compensation fees in advance for something that they probably never do with their media players. It is also interesting to note that some customers seem to see this advanced piracy tax in a way that would allow them to copy media because they already payed for the privilege.

Movie Studios are also demanding that Apple reduces the number of devices that are allowed to play back a movie that has been purchased from iTunes.

I think it is really funny that they become more and more restrictive against the people that are buying their movies. Would not it be better for their business if they would actually listen to what their customers demanded instead of communicating the message that all their customers are movie pirates ?

Customers on the other hand have to take a stance against this, the earlier the better. I advise everyone to stay away from the Zune player and stay away from any other player the movie industry gets a share of. Don’t buy it, don’t buy their movies, let them bleed until they understand who is in charge..

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Author: Martin Brinkmann, Friday December 1, 2006 -
Tags:apple, drm, iPod, miaa, movie-studio, piracy, riaa, tax, universal, Zune