February 06, 2007

By by Brian Garrity, N.Y.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs released an open letter on the company's Web site
calling for the major labels to abandon digital rights management. "DRMs haven't worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy," Jobs writes.

Apple's salvo in the DRM debate comes as the company is facing increasing pressure in Europe to make its iPod/iTunes ecosystem interoperable with third parties. "Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free," Jobs writes. "Convincing them [the labels] to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly."

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