UK retailers to record labels: DRM is killing us
By Ryan Paul
November 21, 2007 - 08:57AM CT

In response to declining music sales in the UK, the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) has called for the music industry to put an end to DRM. The organization-which represents retailers who sell music and DVDs-blames draconian digital copy protection technologies for the slow growth of the digital music market.

Consumers are increasingly dissatisfied with copy protection systems that erode fair use rights and impose limitations on where and how content can be used. To make matters worse, market fragmentation has led to the emergence of incompatible DRM formats which often confuse consumers and leave them wondering whether or not the content they buy will work on all of their electronics devices.

That makes file-sharing more attractive for some consumers. Many companies in the recording industry still refuse to adjust their business models to account for consumers' preferences when it comes to DRM, believing instead that the near-ubiquitous practice of file-sharing can be abolished with more draconian copy protection mechanisms and litigation.

Music retailers appear to be more in touch with consumer expectations and see a very different picture. peaking on behalf of UK music retailers, ERA director Kim Bayley told the Financial Times this week that the copy protection mechanisms are "stifling growth and working against the consumer interest."

Ars Technica
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