http://www.mattlehrer.com/2006/11/10/a-legitimate-reason-to-hate-the-zune-and-microsoft-too/ and other intriguing nonsense Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:45:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.mattlehrer.com/2006/11/10/a-legitimate-reason-to-hate-the-zune-and-microsoft-too/#comment-147 Matt Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:33:29 +0000 http://www.mattlehrer.com/2006/11/10/a-legitimate-reason-to-hate-the-zune-and-microsoft-too/#comment-147 Zach, I disagree and have read Cuban's argument, which is certainly valid for YouTube. I think the key difference from my point of view is that YouTube already has and continues to distribute copyrighted material whereas the Zune price includes a premium that assumes ALL buyers will break copyright law. It's not a punishment/fine for doing something wrong and breaking the law, it's the assumption that you will. Combine that with the fact that only one record company - and very notably not the artists - will 'profit' (or however you define the payment) from this premium price and I think Chris Seibold, the author of this piece, makes a very valid argument. Zach, I disagree and have read Cuban’s argument, which is certainly valid for YouTube. I think the key difference from my point of view is that YouTube already has and continues to distribute copyrighted material whereas the Zune price includes a premium that assumes ALL buyers will break copyright law. It’s not a punishment/fine for doing something wrong and breaking the law, it’s the assumption that you will. Combine that with the fact that only one record company - and very notably not the artists - will ‘profit’ (or however you define the payment) from this premium price and I think Chris Seibold, the author of this piece, makes a very valid argument.

]]> http://www.mattlehrer.com/2006/11/10/a-legitimate-reason-to-hate-the-zune-and-microsoft-too/#comment-146 Zach Klein Sat, 25 Nov 2006 00:06:12 +0000 http://www.mattlehrer.com/2006/11/10/a-legitimate-reason-to-hate-the-zune-and-microsoft-too/#comment-146 Frankly, I disagree. Microsoft is doing what it must to advance and monetize technology while the RIAA and the nebulous state of legal filesharing sorts itself. Google practiced the same stratefy by setting aside a third of its YouTube purchase for liabilties, chiefly to pay off the most major content creators to keep quiet for the next couple years while they figure out how to handle piracy (<a href="http://www.blogmaverick.com/2006/10/30/some-intimate-details-on-the-google-youtube-deal/" rel="nofollow">read more...</a>). Frankly, I disagree. Microsoft is doing what it must to advance and monetize technology while the RIAA and the nebulous state of legal filesharing sorts itself. Google practiced the same stratefy by setting aside a third of its YouTube purchase for liabilties, chiefly to pay off the most major content creators to keep quiet for the next couple years while they figure out how to handle piracy (read more…).

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