Deep within an article posted at the Guardian UK, Chris Gorog, chief executive of Napster, is quoted as saying something odd. After going on about how great the digital restrictions management (DRM) in Windows Media Audio (WMA) is and how WMA will eventually, in his opinion, become the "ubiquitous platform," he basically says that anyone using a different file format is "consumer-unfriendly" and "eliminating choice." From the Guardian UK:
In the US, the download service launched by Apple last year to boost sales of its iPod music player has sold some 30m tracks at 99 cents each. It is credited by many with breaking the deadlock with record labels and making a consumer-friendly, easy-to-use download service a reality. It, too, is planning a summer European launch and the battle lines with Napster are being drawn. Apple uses its own download format: iPod owners can download songs only from iTunes. This leaves Napster in the odd position of being unable to sell music to owners of the worldis most popular digital music player.
"Napster is a Windows Media Audio house designed around that digital rights management," Gorog says. "We are a believer in the technology and we believe itis going to be, and basically is, the ubiquitous platform. Companies pushing a propriety agenda are consumer-unfriendly experiences because theyire cloistering them in an experience that they canit leave and eliminating choice."
You can read the full article at the Guardian UKis Web site.