Apple asks judge to dismiss iTunes monopoly lawsuit

A history lesson may be in order here. The original versions of iTunes and the early generations of the iPod had NO DRM on the communications protocol between the Mac or PC and the iPod over the USB cable. (DO not confuse this DRM with the DRM on music purchased on the iTunes store which always existed).

Later, Apple introduced DRM on the communications protocol between the Mac or PC and the iPod (over the USB cable). The purpose of the DRM was to prevent third party software from communicating with the iPod. In other words, Apple did it to LOCK DOWN the iPod to iTunes. Why? This prevented third party music stores from easily offering the same iTunes experience. Music Stores like AMAZON had to offer a music downloader which downloaded the music and then used iTunes to import it etc. Not as nice an experience.

This DRM on the USB cable is hideous in my view considering its objective. The MAIN objective is to reduce competition. It is NOT to protect the music industry or artists etc. And considering that Apple sells the VAST majority of online music through the iTunes Music Store. It looks like Real P{layers has a GOOD case against Apple. I doubt the Judge will dismiss it.

P.S. Personally I would like to see some GOOD alternatives to the iTunes program. But the DMCA prevents anyone from breaking this DRM EVEN IF the purpose of the DRM has NOTHING to do with protecting the copyrights of music.

Agree w/ Anyno5 - this has the potential to be really, really ugly in the long term. If Apple wins a suit based on size, shape, and feel, have they then just blocked any manufacturer from making a "tablet" of the same size as an iPad? If so, haven't they just locked this entire market unto themselves? I love me some iPad, but I also appreciate an open market and competition therein.

Given Apple's dominance in this area, I'd be surprised if the case doesn't move forward. After all, its analogous to Microsoft's dominance in Web Browsers in the 1990's.

Apple has dropped a massive suit on Samsung for allegedly infringing on the iPhone and iPad's look and fee,it is bad news.

The Harmony thing was even more clear-cut than that... Real was illegally manipulating Apple's FairPlay DRM to get their tracks to work in iTunes. That's even worse than Palm spoofing the USB vendor IDs.

"...First word broke that Apple has dropped a massive suit on Samsung for"...

Dropped is a poor choice of a word in the first sentence, IMO

hellooooooooo iTunes 4!